Eucalyptus morrisbyi is a rare and endangered tree species endemic to south-eastern Tasmania

Tasmania

Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...

. Its common name is Morrisby's Gum. It has two natural populations on the eastern shore of the Derwent River valley. The limited range of E. morrisbyi means effective management is required to maintain or expand the distribution of this species.

Taxonomy

Eucalyptus morrisbyi belongs to the family Myrtaceae and genus Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...

. It can be further classified as part of the sub-genus Symphyomyrtus and series Viminales. It is most closely related to E. gunnii and E. archeri, however these species do not occur within breeding range of E. morrisbyi.

Growth habit

Mature Eucalyptus morrisbyi individuals grow between 6 and 12 metres in height. The upper trunk has smooth bark of a light white-grey or pink-grey appearance. If drought stress or fire are severe, lignotuber reshoots may form a mallee growth habit. The species' juvenile leaves are rounded, unstalked and glaucous. The adult leaves are arranged alternately and are 5 to 10 cm long and 1.5 to 4 cm wide. They are stalked and less glaucous than the juveniles.

Reproduction

The flower buds arise from the leaf axils in groups of three and are glacous with a pointed operculum. The woody capsules have sunken valves and are approximately 10 mm long. Eucalyptus morrisbyi flowers between February and May and its medium of pollination are birds and insects. Recruitment of E. morrisbyi occurs after disturnace through canopy stored seed or vegetative reproduction from lignotubers.

Management

There are a number of management issues concerned with Eucalpytus morrisbyi due to its rarity.
E. morrisbyi is classed as endangered by both the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 and the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. The two natural populations are assumed to be a remnant of a once larger range. The reduction in range can largely be put down to land clearing after the arrival of Europeans to Tasmania.

External links

• Eucalpytus morrisbyi: First time blooming in the UK Iglesias Trabado, Gustavo (2008). In: EUCALYPTOLOGICS