foliage, buds and flowers of subsp.polyanthemosleaves and immature fruit of subsp.vestitafibrous bark ofE. polyanthemos subsp.vestitajuvenile foliage
Eucalyptus polyanthemos, commonly known asred box,[3] is a species of small to medium-sized tree, that is native to eastern Australia but has been introduced into other countries. It has fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth greyish to cream-coloured bark above, or smooth bark throughout. It has broadly egg-shaped to round juvenile leaves, lance-shaped, egg-shaped or almost round adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and barrel-shaped to conical fruit.
Eucalyptus polyanthemos is a tree that typically grows to a height of 20 m (66 ft) but does not form alignotuber. It has fibrous or flaky bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth mottled greyish, cream-coloured and yellow bark above, or sometimes smooth bark throughout. It often has a crooked trunk and is noted for its domed canopy of greyish foliage. Leaves on young plants are green to bluish grey, broadly egg-shaped to more or less round, 25–80 mm (0.98–3.15 in) long and 25–65 mm (0.98–2.56 in) wide andpetiolate.Crown leaves are the same shade of dull green to bluish or greyish on both sides, lance-shaped to egg-shaped or round, 50–110 mm (2.0–4.3 in) long and 18–50 mm (0.71–1.97 in) wide tapering to a petiole 10–27 mm (0.39–1.06 in) long. Veins on the leaves are distinct and the marginal vein is notably distant from the leaf edge.[3][4][5][6][7]
The flower buds are arranged on the ends of branchlets in groups of seven on a branchingpeduncle 2–10 mm (0.079–0.394 in) long, the individual buds onpedicels 1–5 mm (0.039–0.197 in) long. Mature buds are oval to diamond-shaped, 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide with a conical to slightly beakedoperculum. Flowering occurs in October and November (spring in Australia) and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, barrel-shaped to conicalcapsule 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long and wide with the valves below the level of the rim.[3][4][5][6][7]
Eucalyptus polyanthemos subsp.longiorBrooker &Slee[10] was first formally described in 1996 in the journalMuelleria from a type specimen collected from north ofWaygara.[11][12] It is a taller tree with rough bark and lance-shaped adult leaves.[13]
Eucalyptus polyanthemos subsp.marginalisRule[14] was first formally described in 2004 from a type specimen collected nearTottington, Victoria.[15][16] It is a tree to 12 m (39 ft) with greyish brown, often flaky bark and egg-shaped leaves 50–80 mm (2.0–3.1 in) long.[17]
Eucalyptus polyanthemosSchauer subsp. polyanthemos,[18] theautonym, has mostly smooth bark which is shed in large plates or scales and occasionally persists on the trunk.[19]
Eucalyptus polyanthemos subsp.vestitaL.A.S.Johnson &K.D.Hill[20] was first formally described in 1960 in the journalTelopea from material collected nearSt Andrews, Victoria.[21] The trunk and larger branches of this subspecies usually have grey-brown, flaky or fibrous bark[4][22][23]
Subspecieslongior is found in taller forest in the foothills of far eastern Victoria.[13] Subspeciesmarginalis is also found in Victoria, between theGreater Bendigo National Park andStawell with outliers nearBacchus Marsh. It grows in forest or woodland in dry, gravelly soils.[17]
Subspeciespolyanthemos grows on the slopes and tablelands of central and southern New South Wales where it is widespread on the central and southern slopes and tablelands.[19] Subspeciesvestita is found in Victoria and New South Wales. It grows in woodland south fromGulgong but with a small outlier population in the upperHunter Valley. It is widespread in Victoria east ofArarat, growing on poor stony soils, usually on ridges and slopes.[23]
A red box inFraser National Park is recorded on the Significant Tree Register of theNational Trust of Australia in Victoria. It is an unusual form with contorted limbs which is estimated to be around 80 years old and is 26.7 metres high.[28]
The species is noted for its drought tolerance.[30] Although usually considered to be slow growing, newly planted trees may have their growth rate enhanced with improved soil, good drainage and irrigation in the first two years.[30] The species is moderately resistant toArmillaria root rot.[31] A minimum temperature of −10 °C (15 °F) is required for cultivation.[32]
^abcdChippendale, George M."Eucalyptus polyanthemos". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved4 December 2019.
^abcCostermans, L. (1981).Native Trees and Shrubs of South-eastern Australia. Australia: Rigby.ISBN072701403X.
^Johannes Conrad Schauer (1843). Wilhelm Gerhard Walpers (ed.).Repertorium Botanices Systematicae (Volume 2). New York: Sumtibus Frederici Hofmeister. p. 924. Retrieved4 December 2019.
