Eucalyptus_×_balanopelex

<i>Eucalyptus <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> balanopelex</i>

Eucalyptus × balanopelex

Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus × balanopelex is a mallee that is endemic to a small area of the south-west of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, broadly lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy-white flowers and hemispherical fruit. It is thought to be a hybrid between E. kessellii subsp. eugnosta and E. semiglobosa.

Quick Facts Eucalyptus × balanopelex, Scientific classification ...
Flower buds
Fruit
Bark

Description

Eucalyptus × balanopelex is a mallee that typically grows to a height of 4 metres (13 ft) and forms a lignotuber. It has smooth pale grey to brownish bark throughout. The leaves on young plants and on coppice regrowth are dull green, egg-shaped, 60–110 mm (2–4 in) long, 35–50 mm (1–2 in) wide and always have a petiole. Adult leaves are lance-shaped, sometimes broadly lance-shaped, 65–120 mm (3–5 in) long and 13–30 mm (0.5–1 in) wide with a petiole 10–25 mm (0.4–1 in) long. The adult leaves are usually the same glossy green on both side and have a dense network of veins. The flowers are arranged in groups of seven or nine in leaf axils on a pendulous peduncle 8–25 mm (0.3–1 in) long, the individual flowers on a pedicel 3–9 mm (0.1–0.4 in) long. The mature buds are oval, 12–19 mm (0.47–0.75 in) long and 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in) wide with a conical operculum about 50% longer than the floral cup. The flowers are creamy-white and the fruit is a hemispherical capsule, 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long and 9–12 mm (0.35–0.47 in) wide with the valves protruding above the rim.[2][3]

The Australian Plant Census lists this species as a natural hybrid between E. kessellii subsp. eugnosta and E. semiglobosa.[1]

Taxonomy and naming

Eucalyptus × balanopelex was first formally described in 1992 as Eucalyptus balanopelex by Lawrie Johnston and Ken Hill who published the description in the journal Telopea.[3][4] The specific epithet (balanopelex) is derived from the Ancient Greek words balanos meaning "acorn" or "barnacle",[5]: 68  and pelex meaning "a helmet",[5]: 594  referring to the shape of the operculum.[3]

Distribution and habitat

This eucalypt grows on a low-lying sandplain near Esperance.[2]

In 2012, Dean Nicolle and Malcolm French proposed that E. balanopelex is a hybrid of E. kessellii subsp. eugnosta and E. semiglobosa and should be delisted from the list of threatened flora.[6] It is no longer listed by FloraBase.[7]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Eucalyptus × balanopelex". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  2. [2]
    "Eucalyptus x balanopelex". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  3. [3]
    Hill, Kenneth D.; Johnson, Lawrence A.S. (1992). "Systematic studies in the eucalypts. 5. New taxa and combination in Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 4 (4): 605–607. doi:10.7751/telopea19814948. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  4. [4]
    "Eucalyptus × balanopelex". APNI. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  5. [5]
    Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  6. [6]
    Nicolle, Dean; French, Malcolm E. (2012). "A revision of Eucalyptus ser. Falcatae (Myrtaceae) from south-western Australia, including the description of new taxa and comments on the probable hybrid origin of E. balanites, E. balanopelex and E. phylacis" (PDF). Nuytsia. 22 (6): 447–448. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  7. [7]
    "Eucalyptus balanopelex". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
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