Eucalyptus platypus
| Moort | |
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| Eucalyptus platypus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Eucalyptus |
| Species: | E. platypus |
| Binomial name | |
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Eucalyptus platypus Hook. |
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| 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.
It is a mallee tree that typically grows to a height of 1.5 to 10 metres (5 to 33 ft) and a width of 5 to 10 metres (16 to 33 ft). The canopy of the tree is dense and rounded and the disjunct glossy, green or grey-green, coriaceous and concolorous leaves have a elliptical to orbicular shape. The bark is smooth and light brown, grey brown or copper ageing to grey. It is usually single stemmed and forms thickets, it can form a poorly developed lignotuber, but this is often absent. A distinctive feature of this species are its elongated flat peduncles which are about 3 centimetres (1.2 in) long and 1 cm (0.39 in) 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.
Each simple conflorescence has an axillary arrangement and the buds have a cylindrical or rostrate shape with a calyx calyptrate that sheds early. It eventually forms pyriform or turbinate fruits with a flat disc and exserted valves.
It was first described by William Jackson Hooker in 1851, from the type specimen collected near King George Sound by James Drummond.
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.)
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Wikipedia