Eucalyptus platypus

Moort
Eucalyptus platypus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species: E. platypus
Binomial name
Eucalyptus platypus
Hook.
E. platypus, field distribution

Eucalyptus platypus, also known as moort or round-leaved moort, is a small tree which occurs in an area between Albany and Esperance in Western Australia. The Noongar names for the tree are Maalok or Moort.[1]

Description

It is a mallee Eucalyptus and grows to between 1.5m and 10 metres in height. The canopy of the tree is dense and rounded and the leaves are elliptical to orbicular. The bark is smooth and light brown, ageing to grey.

A distinctive feature of this species are its elongated flat peduncles which are about 3 cm long and 1 cm wide. These are referred to in its specific name platypus which is derived from the Greek words πλατύς (platy: flat, broad) and πους (pous: foot). The peduncles support stalkless buds with long, conical caps in clusters of up to seven. These are followed by greenish-yellow (or occasionally white, cream or (rarely) red) flowers in spring and summer which are to some degree obscured by the dense foliage.

It was first described by William Jackson Hooker in 1851, from the type specimen collected near King George Sound by James Drummond.

Subspecies

There are currently two recognized subspecies of Eucalyptus platypus:

Two former subspecies are now classified as species in their own right. Eucalyptus platypus var. heterophylla Blakely is currently Eucalyptus utilis Brooker & Hopper and Eucalyptus platypus var. nutans (F.Muell.) Benth. is currently Eucalyptus nutans (F. Muell.)

Synonyms

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Noongar names for plants". kippleonline.net. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
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