Eucalyptus elata

Eucalyptus elata, commonly known as the river peppermint or river white gum,[2] is a species of medium to tall tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, compacted bark on the lower trunk, smooth bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, green to yellow flower buds arranged in groups of eleven to thirty or more, white flowers and hemispherical or shortened spherical fruit.

buds and flowers
fruit

River peppermint
Eucalyptus elata, lining Northbourne Avenue, Canberra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. elata
Binomial name
Eucalyptus elata
E. elata, field distribution
Synonyms[1]
  • Eucalyptus andreana var. stenophylla (William Blakely) Cameron
  • Eucalyptus lindleyana var. stenophylla Blakely

Description

Eucalyptus elata is a tree that typically grows to a height of 40 m (130 ft), rarely a mallee to 6 m (20 ft), and forms a lignotuber. It has rough, compact, dark grey bark, with narrow longitudinal fissures on the lower trunk. The bark on the upper trunk and branches is smooth, shedding in long ribbons often remaining in the crown, leaving a grey, cream-coloured or whitish surface. Young plants and coppice regrowth have leaves arranged in opposite pairs, lance-shaped to curved, 33–105 mm (1.3–4.1 in) long and 6–16 mm (0.24–0.63 in) wide. Adult leaves are arranged alternately, the same glossy green on both sides, lance-shaped to curved, 60–220 mm (2.4–8.7 in) long and 6–20 mm (0.24–0.79 in) wide on a petiole 6–20 mm (0.24–0.79 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in groups of between eleven and thirty or more in leaf axils on an unbranched peduncle 4–12 mm (0.16–0.47 in) long, the individual buds on a pedicel 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long. Mature buds are club-shaped, 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long and 1.5–3 mm (0.059–0.118 in) wide with a conical to rounded operculum. Flowering occurs from August to December and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, hemispherical or shortened spherical capsule 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long and 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) wide with the valves enclosed below the rim.[2][3][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

Eucalyptus elata was first described in 1829 by Friedrich Dehnhardt in his book, Catalogus Plantarum Horti Camaldulensis.[6][7] The specific epithet (elata) is a Latin word meaning "exalted", "high" or "lofty".[8]

Distribution and habitat

River peppermint usually grows along watercourse but sometimes also in undulating country, on rocky ridges or on scree slopes in forest. It grows near the coast and nearby tablelands south from Putty in New South Wales to eastern Victoria.[3][4][5]

Uses

Use in horticulture

E. elata is widely cultivated as a street and ornamental tree for its beautiful upper smooth bark, rich green foliage and profusion of flowers that appear in spherical masses.[9]

Essential oils

The leaves of E. elata have been distilled commercially for a piperitone based essential oil.[10]

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References
  1. "Eucalyptus elata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  2. "Eucalyptus elata". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  3. Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus elata". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  4. Hill, Ken. "Eucalyptus elata". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  5. Brooker, M. Ian H.; Slee, Andrew V. "Eucalyptus elata". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  6. "Eucalyptus elata". APNI. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  7. Dehnhardt, Freidrich (1829). Catalogus plantarum Horti Camaldulensis. p. 26. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  8. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 297.
  9. Brooker, M.I.H. & Kleinig, D.A. Field Guide to Eucalyptus, Bloomings, Melbourne 2001
  10. Boland, D.J., Brophy, J.J., and A.P.N. House, Eucalyptus Leaf Oils, 1991, ISBN 0-909605-69-6
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