Fluted Gum Tree (Eucalyptus salubris)
Description
E. salubris grows as a mallee, usually from 4 to 15 metres (13.1 to 49.2 ft) high, but sometimes as low as 2 to 24 m (6.6 to 78.7 ft). It has smooth, strongly fluted trunks and stems, and white or cream flowers from September to March.The adult leaves are concolorous, glossy, green and alternate with petioles that are 0.7 to 2 centimetres (0.28 to 0.79 in) in length. Te leaf blade has a narrow lanceolate to lanceolate shape and is usually 6.5 to 10.5 cm (2.6 to 4.1 in) long and 0.7 to 1.5 cm (0.28 to 0.59 in) wide with the base tapering to the petiole and a pointed apex. The species was first published in 1876 by Ferdinand von Mueller, based on specimens collected at Queen Victoria Spring by Jess Young during the Giles expedition of May 1875. The specific epithet (salubris) is a Latin word meaning "healthful", "wholesome" or "beneficial"[10], in reference to the healthy appearance of the tree. The common name refers to the fluted or twisted trunks, resembling a carpenter’s gimlet which is a boring tool. There are no subspecies or varieties. A variety was published by Joseph Maiden in 1919 as E. s. subsp. glauca, but this was promoted to species rank as E. ravida in 1991. Hybrids with E. tortilis have been reported. The species belongs in Eucalyptus subgenus Symphyomyrtus section Bisectae subsection Glandulosae. This section has buds with two opercula and the cotyledons are bisected and the branchlets have numerous oil glands in the pith. E. salubris also belongs to a well known small group, the gimlets, notable for the slender fluted, twisted shiny trunks. Eucalyptus tortilis is morphologically closest to E. salubris differing only in having larger buds with more acute operculum and slightly larger fruit. E. salubris is one of the six true gimlet species that have buds in groups of seven. The other true gimlets are E. campaspe , E. effusa , E. ravida, E. terebra and E. tortilis. The non-glaucous E. salubris is easily distinguished from E. ravida and E. campaspe both of which have noticeably glaucous branchlets.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Myrtales
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Family: Myrtaceae
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Genus: Eucalyptus
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