Eucalyptus kochii
Oil mallee | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Myrtaceae |
Genus: | Eucalyptus |
Species: | E. kochii
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Binomial name | |
Eucalyptus kochii |
Eucalyptus kochii, commonly known as oil mallee,[1] is a native tree of Western Australia.
The mallee typically grows to a height of 3 to 12 metres (10 to 39 ft) and has rough bark that is grey to branchlets and a pink-cream colour above. It blooms between October and February producing white flowers.
The species is found on flates, depressions, rises and along roadsides in the Mid West and Wheatbelt regions of Western Australia where it grows in sandy-loamy-clay soils over laterite or granite.
There are two subspecies:
- Eucalyptus kochii subsp. kochii
- Eucalyptus kochii subsp. plenissima
It is cultivated in plantations for the production of eucalyptus oil. The distilled oil has a very high content of cineole (83-94%).[2]
References
- ^ a b "Eucalyptus kochii Maiden & Blakely". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ Boland, D.J., Brophy, J.J., and A.P.N. House, Eucalyptus Leaf Oils, 1991, ISBN 0-909605-69-6
External links
- Byrne, M., "High genetic identities between three oil mallee taxa, Eucalyptus kochii ssp. kochii, ssp. plenissima and E. horistes, based on nuclear RFLP analysis", Heredity, 1999, 82, pp205–211 [1]