Eucalyptus amplifolia
{{Short description|Species of eucalyptus}}
{{speciesbox
|name = Cabbage gum
|image = Eucalyptus amplifolia.jpg
|image_caption = Eucalyptus amplifolia in the ANBG
|genus = Eucalyptus
|species = amplifolia
| status = NT
| status_system = IUCN3.1
|authority = Naudin
}}
Eucalyptus amplifolia, commonly known as the cabbage gum, is a tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has smooth bark on its trunk and branches, lance-shaped leaves, and buds in groups of between seven and fifteen or more. The flowers are white and the fruit are woody hemispherical capsules. It is common on the coastal areas and tablelands of New South Wales and adjacent areas in south eastern Queensland, occurring as far south as Bega.File:Eucalyptus amplifolia - bark and leaves.jpgFile:Eucalyptus amplifolia - buds.jpgFile:Eucalyptus amplifolia - fruit.jpgFile:Eucalyptus amplifolia flowers.jpg
Description
Eucalyptus amplifolia is a tree that can grow to {{convert|30|m|ft|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} in height in forest situations, though it is often shorter in sparser woodland areas. It has smooth, often blotchy, white, cream, yellow, grey, pink or blue-grey bark throughout the trunk and branches, usually with loose, flaking grey slabs persistent at the base and lower trunk. The leaves on young plants are rounded, egg-shaped or triangular, green, {{convert|50-220|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|35-180|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} and predominately held horizontal to the ground. Adult leaves are arranged alternately, broadly lance-shaped, {{convert|75-250|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|16-70|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide on a petiole {{convert|10-30|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long. Side-veins are 45° or greater to the midrib, and the leaves are of a dull or glossy green of the same hue both sides of the leaf.{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=Ken |title=Eucalyptus amplifolia |url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Eucalyptus~amplifolia |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney |access-date=25 February 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Chippendale |first1=George McCartney |title=Eucalyptus amplifolia |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Eucalyptus%20amplifolia |publisher=Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra |access-date=25 February 2019}}
The flowers are arranged in groups of seven to fifteen or more, the groups on a flattened or angular peduncle {{convert|7-15|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, the individual flowers sometimes on a pedicel up to {{convert|8|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, or sessile. The buds are cone-shaped, the floral cup hemispherical {{convert|2-3|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, the operculum conical, {{convert|7-9|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and about {{convert|4|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide at the join. Flowering occurs between November and January and the fruit is a woody, hemispherical capsule {{convert|2-5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|4-6|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} wide on a pedicel {{convert|1-5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long. There are three or four upward-pointing valves on the top of the fruit.
Taxonomy and naming
Eucalyptus amplifolia was first formally described in 1891 by Charles Victor Naudin who published the description in Description and emploi des Eucalyptus: introduits en Europe principalement en France et en Algerie: second memoire.{{cite web|title=Eucalyptus amplifolia|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/455218|publisher=APNI|access-date=25 February 2019}} The specific epithet (amplifolia) is derived from the Latin words amplus meaning "large"{{cite book|authorlink1=Roland W. Brown|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.}}{{rp|86}} and folium meaning "leaf",{{rp|466}} referring to the large leaves of this eucalypt.{{cite web|title=EUCLID - Eucalyptus amplifolia subsp. amplifolia|url=http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org:8080/euclid/data/02050e02-0108-490e-8900-0e0601070d00/media/Html/Eucalyptus_amplifolia_subsp._amplifolia.htm|website=lucidcentral.org|publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research|access-date=25 February 2019}}
In 1990, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill described two subspecies of Eucalyptus amplifolia:{{cite journal |last1=Johnson |first1=Lawrence A.S. |last2=Hill |first2=Kenneth D. |title=New taxa and combinations in Eucalyptus and Angophora (Myrtaceae) |journal=Telopea |date=26 September 1990 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=51–52 |doi=10.7751/telopea19904916|doi-access=free }}
- Eucalyptus amplifolia subsp. amplifolia has buds and fruit with a distinct pedicel;{{cite web|title=Eucalyptus amplifolia subsp. amplifolia|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/456249|publisher=APNI|access-date=25 February 2019}}
- Eucalyptus amplifolia subsp. sessiliflora lacks a distinct pedicel.{{cite web|title=Eucalyptus amplifolia subsp. sessiliflora|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/456250|publisher=APNI|access-date=25 February 2019}}
Distribution and habitat
Cabbage gum grows in grassy woodland and forest, often in depressions and on river flats.
- Subspecies amplifolia is found on the coastal plains of New South Wales from Taree to Batemans Bay with disjunct populations as far north as Coffs Harbour as well as in the Megalong Valley and on the Southern Tablelands near Goulburn.
- Subspecies sessiliflora grows in northern New South Wales, occurring in the Tenterfield, Armidale and Casino districts and in adjacent areas in Queensland.
Gallery
File:Eucalyptus amplifolia - leaves.jpg|Leaves
File:Eucalyptus amplifolia - trunk bark.jpg|Trunk bark
File:Eucalyptus amplifolia trunk.jpg|Cabbage gum, bark
File:Eucalyptus amplifolia - immature tree.jpg|Young Eucalyptus amplifolia subsp. amplifolia
File:Prospectcreek.jpg|A eucalyptus forest near Prospect Creek in Sydney, containing some cabbage gum trees.
References
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Category:Myrtales of Australia