Eucalyptus yilgarnensis

Eucalyptus yilgarnensis, commonly known as yorrell[1] or yorrel,[2] is a species of mallee, rarely a small tree, that is endemic to Western Australia. It usually has rough bark on the trunk, smooth bark above, linear to narrow elliptical or narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven or nine, white flowers and barrel-shaped fruit.

Yorrell
Eucalyptus yilgarnensis near Lake Minigwal in the Great Victoria Desert
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Eucalyptus
Species:	E. yilgarnensis
Binomial name
Eucalyptus yilgarnensis (Maiden) Brooker

Description

Eucalyptus yilgarnensis is a mallee or tree that typically grows to a height of up to 10 m (33 ft) and forms a lignotuber. It usually has rough, fibrous brown bark, smooth grey to brown bark above, sometimes smooth bark throughout. Young plants and coppice regrowth have dull bluish grey, narrow elliptical, lance-shaped or egg-shaped leaves that are 40–70 mm (1.6–2.8 in) long and 10–23 mm (0.39–0.91 in) wide and petiolate. Adult leaves are the same shade of glossy green on both sides, linear to narrow elliptical or narrow lance-shaped, 50–80 mm (2.0–3.1 in) long and 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) wide, tapering to a petiole 5–25 mm (0.20–0.98 in) long. The flowers are arranged in leaf axils in groups of seven or nine on an unbranched peduncle 4–15 mm (0.16–0.59 in) long, the individual buds of pedicels 2–6 mm (0.079–0.236 in) long. Mature buds are oval or pear-shaped, 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide with a rounded to conical operculum 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long. Flowering occurs from April to November and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, barrel-shaped capsule 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide with the valves below rim level.[1][2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Yorrell was first formally described in 1919 by Joseph Maiden who published the description in Journal and Proceedings of New South Wales and gave it the name Eucalyptus gracilis var. yilgarnensis.[4][5] In 1986, Ian Brooker raised the variety to species status as E. yilgarnensis.[6][7]

Distribution and habitat

Eucalyptus yilgarnensis grows on sandy soil in low, open woodland between Wongan Hills, Kalgoorlie, Zanthus, Balladonia and Salmon Gums.[2][3]

Associated species in the woodland overstorey include E. salubris and E. salmonophloia and sometimes E. melanoxylon and E. oleosa. Plants found in the understorey shrubs include Acacia colletioides, Atriplex vesicaria, A. paludosa, Melaleuca hamulosa, Regelia cymbifolia, Exocarpos aphyllus and Grevillea acuaria.[8]

Conservation status

This eucalypt is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[1]

See also

• List of Eucalyptus species

References

1. "Eucalyptus yilgarnensis". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
2. "Eucalyptus yilgarnensis". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
3. Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus yilgarnensis". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
4. "Eucalyptus gracilis var. yilgarnensis". APNI. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
5. Maiden, Joseph (1919). "Notes on Eucalyptus, No. VI. (with descriptions of two new species, in co-operation with Mr. R. H. Cambage)". Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales. 52: 489. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
6. "Eucalyptus yilgarnensis". APNI. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
7. Brooker, M. Ian H. (1986). "new species and subspecies of the informal "Eucalyptus series Calycogonae" Pryor & Johnson (Eucalyptus series Aridae Blakely Myrtaceae)". Nuytsia. 5 (3): 366–370. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
8. "Eucalyptus yilgarnensis Yorrell Woodland". Wheatbelt Woodland. Department of Environment and Conservation. Retrieved 15 May 2017.