White topped box | |
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wavy edged leaf from Jamberoo Mountain, Australia | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Myrtaceae |
Genus: | Eucalyptus |
Species: | E. quadrangulata |
Binomial name | |
Eucalyptus quadrangulata Henry Deane & Maiden |
Eucalyptus quadrangulata, known as the white-topped box, is a tree native to eastern Australia.
It ranges north from Bundanoon, New South Wales north along the Great Dividing Range in discontinuous patches to Queensland. It is locally frequent on the eastern fall of the ranges, at high altitude in wet areas, on mid to fertile soils, and is occasionally found on the coastal plain. It is a medium to large tree, up to 50 metres (160 ft) tall.
The leaves are 12 to 20 cm (4.7 to 7.9 in) long, 1 to 2 cm (0.39 to 0.79 in) wide, and lanceolate in shape. They are wavy edged or slightly toothed, which is an unusual feature in the eucalyptus genus. The leaves have marginal oil glands. The lower bark is grey and fibrous with some white patches. The bark is white and smooth on the smaller branches. The bark sheds in long strips. The gumnuts are conical, 5 to 7 mm (0.20 to 0.28 in) long and 4 to 6 mm (0.16 to 0.24 in) wide.