Eucalyptus baueriana
{{Short description|Species of eucalyptus}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Blue box
| image = Eucalyptus baueriana.jpg
| image_caption = Eucalyptus baueriana in Maranoa Gardens, Melbourne
| status = VU
| status_system = IUCN3.1
|authority = Schauer{{cite web|title=Eucalyptus baueriana|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/58794|publisher=Australian Plant Census|access-date=13 March 2019}}
| genus = Eucalyptus
| species = baueriana
| range_map = E. baueriana.JPG
| range_map_caption = Eucalyptus baueriana, field distribution
}}
Eucalyptus baueriana, commonly known as blue box or round-leaved box,{{cite web |title=Eucalyptus baueriana Blue box, Round-leaved box|url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/euclid/text/entities/eucalyptus_baueriana.htm?zoom_highlight=Eucalyptus+baueriana |publisher=Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research |access-date=13 March 2019}} is a tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on the trunk and branches, egg-shaped adult leaves, oval to diamond-shaped flower buds arranged in groups of seven, white flowers and conical fruit.File:Eucalyptus baueriana buds.jpg
Description
Eucalyptus baueriana is a tree that grows to a height of about {{convert|20|m|ft|0}}, sometimes a small tree or mallee to {{convert|12|m|ft|0}} high, and forms a lignotuber. It has persistent, light grey, fibrous or flaky bark with whitish patches, on the trunk and larger branches. The higher branches have smooth, grey bark that is shed in short ribbons. Young plants and coppice regrowth have broad egg-shaped to almost round leaves {{convert|35-60|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|39-80|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} wide. Mature trees often have juvenile leaves in the crown. Adult leaves are egg-shaped, {{convert|53-105|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|23-52|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide on a petiole {{convert|18-43|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long. The leaves are the same dull or glossy green colour on both sides and sometimes have a whitish bloom. The flowers are borne in groups of seven in leaf axils on an unbranched peduncle {{convert|5-11|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long, the individual buds on a pedicel {{convert|1-5|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long. Mature buds are oval to diamond-shaped, {{convert|3-6|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|3-4|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide with a conical operculum. Flowering mainly occurs from September to December and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, conical capsule {{convert|4-7|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|4-7|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide with the valves enclosed.{{cite web |last1=Chippendale |first1=George M. |title=Eucalyptus baueriana |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Eucalyptus%20baueriana |publisher=Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra |access-date=13 March 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=Ken |title=Eucalyptus baueriana |url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Eucalyptus~baueriana |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney |access-date=13 March 2019}}{{cite web |title=Eucalyptus baueriana |url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/b02aa95d-0118-4d5c-a711-676f07cd3055 |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria |access-date=13 March 2019}}
Taxonomy and naming
Eucalyptus baueriana was first formally described in 1843 by Johannes Conrad Schauer and the description was published in Repertorium Botanices Systematicae.{{cite web|title=Eucalyptus baueriana|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/454537 |publisher=APNI|access-date=13 March 2019}} The specific epithet (baueriana) honours Ferdinand Bauer.{{cite book |last1=Schauer |first1=Johannes Conrad |last2=Walpers|first2=Wilhelm Gerhard (ed.)|title=Repertorium Botanices Systematicae (Volume 2) |date=1843 |publisher=Sumtibus Frederici Hofmeister |location=Lipsiae |page=924 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/32093#page/940/mode/1up |access-date=13 March 2019}}{{cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |id=A010068b|title=Bauer, Ferdinand Lukas (1760 - 1826) |last=Gilbert|first=L. A.|year=2006|access-date=2008-12-10}}
In 2011, Kevin James Rule described three subspecies:{{cite journal |last1=Rule |first1=Kevin James |title=Six new infraspecific taxa in Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) for Victoria |journal=Muelleria |date=2011 |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=12–14 |url=https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/documents/Muelleria_29%281%29%2C_Rule.pdf |access-date=13 March 2019}}
- E. baueriana Schauer subsp. baueriana is a tree to {{convert|20|m|ft|0}} with fruit {{convert|6-7|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|4-6|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide;{{cite web|title=Eucalyptus baueriana subsp. baueriana|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/246730|publisher=Australian Plant Census|access-date=13 March 2019}}
- E. baueriana subsp. deddickensis Rule is a small tree or mallee to {{convert|12|m|ft|0}} with fruit {{convert|3-5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|3-5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and leaves {{convert|50-70|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|40-60|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide;{{cite web|title=Eucalyptus baueriana subsp. deddickensis|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/229873|publisher=Australian Plant Census|access-date=13 March 2019}}
- E. baueriana subsp. thalassina Rule, commonly known as Werribee blue box, is a small tree or mallee to {{convert|12|m|ft|0}} with fruit {{convert|3-5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|3-5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and leaves {{convert|30-50|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|20-40|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide.{{cite web|title=Eucalyptus baueriana subsp. thalassina|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/229872|publisher=Australian Plant Census|access-date=13 March 2019}}
Distribution and habitat
Blue box grows in woodland in near-coastal areas of New South Wales south from Putty to areas near Melbourne in Victoria although Chippendale in Flora of Australia reports the species occurring near Stanthorpe in Queensland and in the Glen Innes - Armidale area.Brooker, I. & Kleinig, D., Eucalyptus, An illustrated guide to identification, Reed Books, Melbourne, 1996
Subspecies deddickensis is restricted to two isolated population on the banks of the Deddick River in far north-eastern Victoria and subspecies thalassina to the Werribee River catchment near Bacchus Marsh.{{cite web |last1=Messina |first1=Andre |last2=Stajsic |first2=Val |title=Eucalyptus baueriana subsp. deddickensis |url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/e606f3d0-de28-466f-a75f-3c849c3bebfc |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria |access-date=13 March 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Messina |first1=Andre |last2=Stajsic |first2=Val |title=Eucalyptus baueriana subsp. thalassina |url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/d67fb930-f3c8-478e-88d3-edbaeb022034 |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria |access-date=13 March 2019}}