''Eucalyptus vesiculosa'', commonly known as the Corackerup marlock,
is a species of
marlock (a small, shrubby tree with a
crown
A crown is a traditional form of head adornment, or hat, worn by monarchs as a symbol of their power and dignity. A crown is often, by extension, a symbol of the monarch's government or items endorsed by it. The word itself is used, parti ...
extending to near ground level) that is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
to a small area on the south coast of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, elliptical to egg-shaped leaves, flower buds usually in groups of seven, red flowers and conical fruit.
Description
''Eucalyptus vesiculosa'' is a marlock that typically grows to a height of but does not form a
lignotuber
A lignotuber is a woody swelling of the root crown possessed by some plants as a protection against destruction of the plant stem, such as by fire. Other woody plants may develop basal burls as a similar survival strategy, often as a respons ...
. It has smooth, shiny grey bark that is reddish brown when new. The adult leaves are arranged alternately, the same shade of green on both sides, thick, elliptical to egg-shaped or more or less round, long and wide, tapering to a
petiole long. The flower buds are arranged in leaf
axil
A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, fl ...
s in groups of seven on an unbranched
peduncle long, the individual buds
sessile or on
pedicels
In botany, a pedicel is a stem that attaches a single flower to the inflorescence
In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branch ...
up to long. Mature buds are oval, shaped like an egg in an eggcup, long and wide with a warty, conical to rounded
operculum. Flowering has been observed in May, September and October and the flowers have red
stamen
The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10
Morphology and terminology
A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filament ...
s with cream-coloured
anther
The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10
Morphology and terminology
A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filament ...
s. The fruit is a woody conical
capsule long and wide with the valves near rim level.
Taxonomy and naming
''Eucalyptus vesiculosa'' was first formally described in 2002 by
Ian Brooker
Murray Ian Hill Brooker Order of Australia, AM (2 June 1934 – 25 June 2016), better known as Ian Brooker, was an Australian botanist. He was widely recognised as the leading authority on the genus ''Eucalyptus''.
Ian Brooker was born in Adelai ...
and
Stephen Hopper in the journal ''
Nuytsia'' from specimens they collected in 1995 near the
Boxwood Hill -
Ongerup road.
The
specific epithet
In Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin gramm ...
(''vesiculosa'') is from the
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
word ''vesiculosus'' meaning "covered with little blisters",
referring to the warty operculum.
Distribution and habitat
Corackerup marlock is only known from two localities near
Ongerup where it grows in more or less pure stands.
Conservation status
This eucalypt is classified as "
Priority Four" by the Government of Western Australia
Department of Parks and Wildlife,
meaning that is rare or near threatened.
See also
*
List of ''Eucalyptus'' species
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15356392
Eucalypts of Western Australia
vesiculosa
Myrtales of Australia
Plants described in 2002
Taxa named by Ian Brooker
Taxa named by Stephen Hopper