Eucalyptus crebra
Encyclopedia
Eucalyptus crebra, commonly known as the Narrow-leaved ironbark or Narrowleaf red ironbark, is a type of Ironbark
tree
native to eastern Australia
. A member of the large genus Eucalyptus
, this tree is in the Myrtaceae
family
and can grow to a large spreading tree up to 35 m (100 ft) high. It is an important source of nectar in the honey industry and its hard, strong timber is used in construction.
in 1859. The specific epithet is the Latin
adjective crebra "crowded" or "close together". Within the genus Eucalyptus, it belongs in the subgenus Symphyomyrtus.
s can consume the leaves, and the flowers are pollinated mainly by insects. The southern or shady side of the trunk is habitat for lichen
s.
and construction. A plank has been recorded as being used for Elizabeth Farm
, Australia's oldest surviving European dwelling. It is used as a shade tree or to line roadways, and is also available as a cultivar. It is useful in honey production as the flowers are heavy in nectar and pollen; the resulting honey produced by bees is light-coloured and delicately flavoured.
Ironbark
Ironbark is a common name of a number of species in three taxonomic groups within the genus Eucalyptus that have dark, deeply furrowed bark....
tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
native to eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. A member of the large 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...
, this tree is in the Myrtaceae
Myrtaceae
The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
and can grow to a large spreading tree up to 35 m (100 ft) high. It is an important source of nectar in the honey industry and its hard, strong timber is used in construction.
Taxonomy
The Narrow-leaved ironbark was originally described by Victoria state botanist Ferdinand von MuellerFerdinand von Mueller
Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, KCMG was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist.-Early life:...
in 1859. The specific epithet is the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
adjective crebra "crowded" or "close together". Within the genus Eucalyptus, it belongs in the subgenus Symphyomyrtus.
Description
This plant is a large spreading tree, which may reach 35 m (100 ft) in height. The rough furrowed bark is grey mottled with yellow and orange. The narrow lanceolate leaves are a uniform greyish-green in colour and measure 7–15 cm (2.8-6 in) in length by 0.9–1.7 cm (0.4-0.6 in) wide. The small white flowers appear from late autumn to spring, and are followed by small pods.Distribution and habitat
The Narrow-leaved ironbark is found in eastern Australia, from Picton southwest of Sydney north through New South Wales and Queensland to the vicinity of Cairns. It grows on sandier soils. The narrow-leaved ironbark is one of the key canopy species of the threatened Cumberland Plain Woodlands.Ecology
KoalaKoala
The koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae....
s can consume the leaves, and the flowers are pollinated mainly by insects. The southern or shady side of the trunk is habitat for lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s.
Uses
The tree has a hard, strong, and dark red timber, which has been used for sleepersRailroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
and construction. A plank has been recorded as being used for Elizabeth Farm
Elizabeth Farm, New South Wales
Elizabeth Farm is an historic estate in Parramatta, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Elizabeth Farm was the family home of wool pioneer, John and his wife Elizabeth Macarthur. It was commenced in 1793 on a slight hill overlooking the upper reaches of Parramatta River, 23 kilometres...
, Australia's oldest surviving European dwelling. It is used as a shade tree or to line roadways, and is also available as a cultivar. It is useful in honey production as the flowers are heavy in nectar and pollen; the resulting honey produced by bees is light-coloured and delicately flavoured.