Eucalyptus Dichromophloia

''Corymbia dichromophloia'', commonly known as small-fruited bloodwood, variably-barked bloodwood or gum-topped bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has smooth white bark sometimes with flaky bark on the trunk, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

Description

''Corymbia dichromophloia'' is a tree that typically grows to a height of and forms a lignotuber. It has smooth white, sometimes powdery bark, sometimes with thin, unshed orange and brownish flakes on the trunk and upper branches. Young plants and coppice regrowth have egg-shaped to broadly lance-shaped or elliptical leaves that are long and wide and petiolate. Adult leaves are arranged alternately, the same shade of dull or slightly glossy green on both sides, lance-shaped or curved, long and wide, tapering at the base to a petiole long. The flower buds are arranged on the ends of branchlets on a branched peduncle long, each branch of the peduncle with seven, sometimes nine or eleven buds on pedicels long. Mature buds are oval, pear-shaped or spherical, long and wide with a rounded operculum. Flowering occurs between February and May and the flowers are creamy white. The fruit is a woody, urn-shaped capsule long and wide with a descending disc and the valves enclosed in the fruit. The seeds are reddish brown and boat-shaped with a wing on the end.

Taxonomy and naming

This eucalypt was first formally described in 1859 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name ''Eucalyptus dichromophloia'' and published the description in '' Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Botany''. In 1995 Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson changed the name to ''Corymbia dichromophloia''.

There is debate about the status of this species and differing taxonomies have been proposed. ''Corymbia capricornia'', ''C. drysdalensis'' and ''C. rubens'' have been described, but even then there is hybridisation and intergradation between these and other species of ''Corymbia''.

Distribution and habitat

''Corymbia dichromophloia'' grows in woodland on hills, ridges, plains and near river banks on red or yellow sandy soils over granite or sandstone. It is found in Western Australia, including in the Kimberley region and Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges, in the Top End and south to Katherine in the Northern Territory, and near Mount Isa, Cloncurry and Normanton in Queensland.

See also

* List of ''Corymbia'' species

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15398411

dichromophloia
Myrtales of Australia
Rosids of Western Australia
Flora of the Northern Territory
Flora of Queensland
Plants described in 1859
Taxa named by Ferdinand von Mueller