Eucalyptus salubris
| Gimlet | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Eucalyptus |
| Species: | E. salubris |
| Binomial name | |
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Eucalyptus salubris F.Muell. |
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Eucalyptus salubris, commonly known as gimlet, fluted gum tree, gimlet gum and silver-topped gimlet, is a gum tree endemic to low-rainfall areas of the wheatbelt and goldfields regions of Western Australia.
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 inflorescence is axillary and unbranched with stout peduncles. They are broadened apically and approximately 0.4 to 2 cm (0.16 to 0.79 in) long. The fruit are pedicellate with an obconical to hemispherical shape and about 0.5 to 0.7 cm (0.20 to 0.28 in) wide with a disc level to descending.
The seed capsules remain on trees until the following spring and abundant quantities are often present. There are about 400 viable seeds found in every gram.
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 name salubris is latin meaning healthy, 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 variety. 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.
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