Eucalyptus crebra "Narrow-Leaved Ironbark" - Plant Profiles

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Eucalyptus crebra

Scientific Name	Eucalyptus crebra
Categories	Tree
Common Name(s)	Narrow-Leaved Ironbark
Family	Myrtaceae

Description

"Tree to 35 m tall. Forming a lignotuber. Ironbark to small branches, dark grey or black, hard and deeply furrowed. " (Euclid, 4th Ed.)

Notes

Eucalyptus crebra is used in greater quantities within NSW and Qld mining rehabilitation collectively than any other Eucalyptus species and is generally more reliable in seed setting than many other species. On average, it produces well for time spent harvesting. Eucalyptus crebra is a variable species as can be seen from its treatment in Euclid, 4th Edition. Within the native seed trade a variant which has been named Eucalyptus drepanophylla is widely collected at times. Seed collectors recognise it by its larger leaves and fruit. It produces more seed for time spent in field and it flowers and fruits in its own distinct periods. Euclid 4th Ed. treats E.drepanophylla within its concept of E. crebra. "There is still a great deal of confusion surrounding the distinction of E. crebra from E. drepanophylla. We have tentatively included E. drepanophylla within our broad concept of E. crebra. E. drepanophylla, with a similar distribution pattern in Queensland to that of E. crebra, has in the past been separated from E. crebra by its larger buds and fruit, and slightly broader juvenile leaves. In some areas, this distinction is obvious, but throughout much of the range of E. crebra, the remainder of the two taxa intergrade. Despite comments by Bean (2006) relating to these two species, we have here retained a broader concept of E. crebra including E. drepanophylla within it." (Euclid 4th Ed.) We follow in kind preferring not to distinguish E.drepanophylla until situations arise where soils or ecological settings infer an advantage for its use in revegetation.

Historical Notes

Distribution

"Widely distributed along the coast and inland slopes and plains of New South Wales and Queensland as far as Cooktown and inland to Einasleigh, Pentland, Alpha, Mitchell and Goondiwindi." (Brooker, M.I.H., and Kleinig, D.A., 2004)