Eucalyptus fasciculosa
{{Short description|Species of eucalypt tree}}
{{confuse|text=the Queensland scrub gum (Eucalyptus argophloia)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{use Australian English|date=December 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Pink gum
|image = Eucalyptus fasciculosa habit.jpg
|image_caption = Eucalyptus fasciculosa at Victor Harbour
|status =
|status_system =
|genus = Eucalyptus
|species = fasciculosa
|authority = F.Muell.{{cite web|title=Eucalyptus fasciculosa|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/81003|publisher=Australian Plant Census|access-date=5 July 2019}}
|synonyms = Eucalyptus paniculata var. fasciculosa (F.Muell.) Benth.
}}
File:Eucalyptus fasciculosa buds.jpgFile:Eucalyptus fasciculosa fruit.jpg
Eucalyptus fasciculosa, commonly known as pink gum, hill gum or scrub gum,{{cite book |last1=Nicolle |first1=Dean |title=Native Eucalypts of South Australia |date=2013 |publisher=Dean Nicolle |location=Adelaide |isbn=9780646904108 |pages=196–197}}{{cite web|title=Eucalyptus fasciculosa|url=http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/cgi-bin/speciesfacts_display.cgi?form=speciesfacts&name=Eucalyptus_fasciculosa|website=eFlora SA|access-date=12 December 2020}} is a species of small tree that is endemic to southern Australia. It has mostly smooth, light grey to pinkish bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and conical to barrel-shaped fruit.
Description
Eucalyptus fasciculosa is a tree with a single stem, rarely a mallee, and typically grows to a height of {{cvt|10-15|m}} and a width of {{convert|12|m|ft}}. It has smooth, off-white to slaty blue bark that is shed in flakes, sometimes with rough flaky bark near the base. Young plants and coppice regrowth have egg-shaped, petiolate leaves {{cvt|35-85|mm}} long and {{cvt|15-58|mm}} wide. The adult leaves are arranged alternately, thick, the same glossy green to blue-green on both sides, {{cvt|80-130|mm}} long and {{cvt|13-35|mm}} wide on a petiole {{cvt|10-20|mm}} long. The flower buds are arranged on the ends of stems on a branching peduncle {{cvt|5-10|mm}} long, the individual buds on pedicels {{cvt|2-7|mm}} long. Mature buds are oval to diamond-shaped, {{cvt|4-7|mm}} long and {{cvt|3-4|mm}} wide with a conical operculum. Flowering has been recorded in most months between March and December and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, conical to barrel-shaped capsule {{cvt|5-9|mm}} long and {{cvt|4-8|mm}} wide with the valves below rim level. The seeds are grey to red-brown , irregularly shaped and slightly flattened.{{cite web |title=Eucalyptus fasciculosa |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/euclid/text/entities/eucalyptus_fasciculosa.htm |publisher=Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research |access-date=2 June 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Chippendale |first1=George M. |title=Eucalyptus fasciculosa |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Eucalyptus%20fasciculosa |publisher=Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra |access-date=5 July 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Brooker |first1=M. Ian H. |last2=Slee |first2=Andrew V. |title=Eucalyptus fasciculosa|url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/9a3ab3b0-53cf-4f6d-a32e-6e9287883d66 |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria |access-date=5 July 2019}}
Taxonomy and naming
Eucalyptus fasciculosa was first formally described in 1855 by Ferdinand von Mueller in the Transactions and Proceedings of the Victorian Institute for the Advancement of Science.{{cite web|title=Eucalyptus fasciculosa|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/455236|publisher=APNI|access-date=5 July 2019}}{{cite journal |last1=von Mueller |first1=Ferdinand |title=Descriptions of fifty new Australian plants, chiefly from the colony of Victoria |journal=Transacions and Proceedings of the Victorian Institute for the Advancement of Science |date=1855 |volume=1 |page=34 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/148456#page/48/mode/1up |access-date=5 July 2019}} The specific epithet (fasciculosa) is derived from the Latin word fascis meaning "bundle", "packet" or "sheaf",{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|page=172}} possibly referring to the flower bundles on the ends of the stems.
Distribution and habitat
Pink gum grows in woodland or as an emergent low shrubland on soil of low fertility. It is mainly found in the south-east of South Australia, in the Mount Lofty Ranges, Barossa Valley and on Kangaroo Island. It also occurs in the far south west of Victoria. The canopy is not dense and other plants are able to grow in the dappled shade provided by the tree. The species is very similar in appearance to Eucalyptus leucoxylon.
Use in horticulture
This eucalypt has a moderate growth rate and is able to tolerate low rainfall, moderate wind, including second-line salt wind and light frost.{{cite web|url=http://www.plantthis.com.au/plant-information.asp?gardener=14185&tabview=hazards&plantSpot=0|title=Eucalyptus fasciculosa - Pink Gum (Myrtaceae)|access-date=15 August 2017|year=2017|publisher=Plant this}} It is planted for as an ornamental tree in gardens, parks and as a street tree.{{cite web|url=https://www.natives.net.au/docs/EucalyptusfasciculosaFS.pdf|title=Eucalyptus fasciculosa|access-date=15 August 2017|publisher=Adelaide Nursery}}