Eucalyptus magnificata
{{Short description|Species of eucalyptus}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{speciesbox
|name = Blue box
|image = Eucalyptus magnificata.jpg
|image_caption = Eucalyptus magnificata near Hillgrove
|status =
|status_system =
|genus = Eucalyptus
|species = magnificata
|authority = L.A.S.Johnson & K.D.Hill{{cite web |title=Eucalyptus macrorhyncha |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/118863 |website=Australian Plant Census |access-date=23 September 2019}}
}}
Eucalyptus magnificata, commonly known as blue box{{cite web |title=Eucalyptus magnificata |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/euclid/text/entities/eucalyptus_magnificata.htm |publisher=Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research |access-date=1 June 2020}} or northern blue box, is a species of small tree or sometimes a mallee that is restricted to a small area of New South Wales. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth bark above, broadly lance-shaped to egg-shaped leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white or pale yellow flowers and conical fruit.File:Eucalyptus magnificata leaves.jpgFile:Eucalyptus magnificata flowers.jpgFile:Eucalyptus magnificata fruit.jpg
Description
Eucalyptus magnificata is a tree or a mallee that typically grows to a height of {{cvt|8-15|m}} and forms a lignotuber. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth greyish bark above. Young plants and coppice regrowth have egg-shaped to more or less round leaves that are {{cvt|35-80|mm}} long and {{cvt|35-65|mm}} wide. Adult leaves are broadly lance-shaped to egg-shaped, the same shade of green on both sides, {{cvt|50-150|mm}} long and {{cvt|30-65|mm}} wide, tapering to a petiole {{cvt|10-30|mm}} long. The flower buds are arranged in groups of seven, either in leaf axils or on the end of branchlets, sometimes on a branching peduncle. The peduncle is {{cvt|7-13|mm}} long and the individual buds are on pedicels {{cvt|1-4|mm}} long. Mature buds are oval, sometimes glaucous, about {{cvt|5|mm}} long and {{cvt|3-5|mm}} wide with a conical to beaked operculum. Flowering occurs in June and November and the flowers are white, pale yellow or lemon-coloured. The fruit is a woody, conical capsule {{cvt|5-9|mm}} long wide with the valves enclosed below a thin rim.{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=Ken |title=Eucalyptus magnificata |url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Eucalyptus~magnificata |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney |access-date=23 September 2019}}{{cite journal |last1=Johnson |first1=Lawrence A.S. |last2=Hill |first2=Kenneth D. |title=Eucalyptus magnificata |journal=Telopea |date=1990 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=72–74}}
Taxonomy and naming
Eucalyptus magnificata was first formally described in 1990 by Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill from a specimen collected by Richard Cambage near Uralla in 1917.{{cite web|title=Eucalyptus magnificata|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/456331|publisher=APNI|access-date=23 September 2019}} The specific epithet (magnificata) is a Latin word meaning "magnified", referring to the leaves, buds and fruit which are larger than in related eucalypts.
Distribution and habitat
Blue box grows in grassy woodland on shallow soils near Armidale in New South Wales and Stanthorpe in south-eastern Queensland.
Conservation status
This eucalypt is classified as "endangered" under the New South Wales Government Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.{{cite web |title=Northern blue box - profile |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=10299 |publisher=New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage |access-date=23 September 2019}}
References
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q15396713}}
Category:Myrtales of Australia
Category:Flora of New South Wales
Category:Plants described in 1990