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Telopea 9(2): 2001 
Gums, Chippendale 272,13 Mar 1967 (CANB, NSW); ca. 50 km north of Esperance, Diels 5448,5 Nov 
1901 (B, NSW); Grasspatch, Gardner 2220,23 May 1924 (PERTH, NSW); 2 miles [3.2 km] southward 
from Beete, Gardner 11161, 7 Nov 1953 (PERTH, NSW); 16 km west of Grasspatch on Grasspatch 
road. Hill 299, Johnson & Blaxell, 22 Oct 1983 (NSW, CANB); 19 km south of Salmon Gums on 
Norseman to Esperance road. Hill 2246, Johnson, Brooker & Blaxell, 5 Nov 1986 (NSW, CANB, MEL, 
PERTH); 5 miles [8 km] S of Salmon Gums, Johnson W 191 ,18 Dec 1960 (NSW). 
The Eucalyptus obtusiflora complex 
Four species in Western Australia and South Australia, including E. reptilians Nicolle 
and E. gypsophila Nicolle, which we would place here rather than near E. striaticalyx 
W.V. Fitzg. on the basis of the mallee habit and similarities in bark and fruit 
morphology. See Table 10 for species included and their identification. 
16. Eucalyptus obtusiflora DC., Prodr. 3: 220 (1828). 
Type: cited as 'in Nova-Hollandia ad oram orientalem.' The corresponding specimen 
held in G-DC (Port Jackson, F.W. Sieber 473, 1823) is not the same as replicates of Sieber 
473 held elsewhere, which represents the eastern Australian species (of section 
Renantheria) since described as E. obstans L.A.S. Johnson & K.D. Hill. The specimen 
held in G represents the Western Australian species discussed here; the 'replicates' can 
only be the result of the mixing of specimens. 
Mallee, sometimes a small tree, to 10 m tall. Bark persistent on lower trunk, grey, 
shortly fibrous-flaky, smooth above, or smooth to base, white or greyish, shed in long, 
brown ribbons. Twigs, buds and fruits sometimes glaucous. Juvenile leaves disjunct, 
ovate to orbiculate, petiolate, glaucous, to 7 cm long, 5 cm wide. Adult leaves disjunct, 
narrow- to broad-lanceolate, acuminate, ± falcate, dull, mid-green to grey-green or 
glaucous 5.0-14.0 cm long, 1.2-3.0 cm wide; petioles terete or slightly flattened, l.Q-2.5 cm 
long. Lateral veins indistinct, at c. 30° to midrib, moderately spaced; intramarginal 
vein indistinct, 0.5-1.0 mm from margin. Umbellasters axillary, 7-11-flowered. 
Peduncles terete or angular, 5-20 mm long. Pedicels terete or angular, 1-15 mm long. 
Mature buds ovoid, 10-20 mm long, 5-8 mm diam.; calyptra hemispherical to broadly 
conical, striate, Vi as long as hypanthium, distinctly narrower than hypanthium at join. 
Fruits cylindrical to obconical, not ribbed, 4-5-locular, 8-15 mm long, 5-12 mm diam. 
Calyptra scar and stemonophore c. 1 mm wide, raised at c. 45°. Disc steeply depressed, 
1.5-2.0 mm wide. Valves broadly triangular, obtuse, enclosed. Seeds irregular, 
flattened, shallowly reticulate, glossy deep red brown, 2-2.5 mm long; hilum ventral; 
chaff similar, angular, smaller. 
Distributed from Shark Bay to Yorkrakine Hill. Subcoastal in the north of the range, 
extending inland to the south, and entirely inland south of Enneabba (Fig. 21). 
Three geographically separated subspecies are recognised (see Table 10 for identification). 
16A. Eucalyptus obtusiflora DC. subsp. obtusiflora 
Mallee, usually with a short persistent stocking of fibrous bark. Buds and fruits 
non-glaucous. Peduncles slender. Buds and fruits slender. Calyptra rounded (Fig. 22a, b, c). 
Distributed from Shark Bay to Watheroo, in coastal regions to the north but extending 
inland to the east of subsp. dongarraensis in the south (Fig. 21). 
Locally frequent but sporadic, on red sandy soils. 
Conservation status: not at risk. 
Selected specimens (from 24 examined): Western Australia: 10 miles [16 km] N of Murchison River 
on NE Coastal Highway, Beard 6738 ,7 Oct 1973 (PERTH, NSW); 30 miles [48.3 km] E of Binnu, Beard 
6871 ,19 Oct 1973 (PERTH, NSW); 25 miles [40.3 km] N and W of Yuna, Beard 6869, 10 Oct 1973 
