Eucalyptus fusiformis (Myrtaceae), a new species of Ironbark (in the Informal E. series Paniculatae Pryor et Johnson) from North-eastern NSW.

Abstract

A new species, Eucalyptus fusiformis Boland et Kleinig, from the north coast of New South Wales is described. Its taxonomic position is in E. subgenus Symphyomyrtus series Paniculatae following the informal classification of eucalypts proposed by Pryor and Johnson (1971). E. fusiformis is characterised by its flowers, fruits and adult leaves. In the bud the staminal filaments are fully inflected while the androecium has outer staminodes and the anthers are cuboid and adnate. The fruits are narrow, often truncate fusiform, tapering into long slender pedicels. The adult leaves are dull grey, concolorous and hypoamphistomatic. The species resembles the more numerous and often co-occurring ironbark E. siderophloia which has similar adult and seedling leaves. The volatile oils of both species are very similar. The ecology, distribution, taxonomic affinities and conservation status are discussed.