Imlay Mallee
| Eucalyptus imlayensis | |
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| One of the few healthy stems of Eucalyptus imlayensis, Mount Imlay, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Eucalyptus |
| Subgenus: | Symphyomyrtus |
| Species: | E. imlayensis |
| Binomial name | |
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Eucalyptus imlayensis Crisp & Brooker |
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Eucalyptus imlayensis, the Mount Imlay Mallee is a eucalyptus plant. It is endemic to the far south east of New South Wales, only occurring near the summit of Mount Imlay.
A typical mallee in appearance, growing to 7 metres tall. Bark is smooth, though it sheds in ribbons, curling over near the base. Bark is green when fresh, aging to orange, brown then grey. Juvenile leaves are ovate, without stalks. Sometimes slightly toothed. Adult leaves are quite thick, veiny, straight or curved, 15 cm by 2 cm. The same glossy green above as below the leaf. Leaves held fairly erect. Cream or white flowers form in threes, though the flowering period is not recorded. Gumnuts are stalk-less or practically so, on a flattened stem. The disc surrounding the gumnut is prominent. The stems of seedlings are square in cross section, "winged" at the edges.
This small eucalyptus occurs on a rocky slope, near the mountain's summit. Growing as a multi-stemmed mallee, surrounded by low heathland plants on mossy ground. Average annual rainfall at Eden on the coast is 866 mm. However, the rainfall on the mountain would be considerably higher. Mountain mists add extra moisture to the habitat. The soils are poor in nutrient, based from sandstone and conglomerate rocks. These sedimentary rocks are from the Devonian period, laid down 395 to 345 million years ago. Part of the Merimbula group placed above Ordovician sediments.
Nearby species include the rare Imlay Boronia, also only found on this mountain. Other nearby plants include Tea Tree, Devil's Twine, Digger's Speedwell, Tasmanian Flax-lily, Rasp Fern, Spiny-head Mat-rush, Scented Paperbark, Common Shaggy Pea, Narrow-leaved Peppermint and Blotchy Mint-bush.
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Wikipedia