Silver-Leaf Candlebark - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Eucalyptus canobolensis

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Gazetted date: 16 Dec 2022

Profile last updated: 31 Jan 2023

Description

Tree 8-12 m high, with bark smooth to base, shedding in ribbons. Juvenile leaves opposite, round, grey-green. Adult leaves lance-shaped, mostly 10-18 cm long, 1.5-3.5 cm wide, dull green or grey-green. Flowerheads 3-flowered, with a distinctly flattened stalk. Buds egg-shaped, 5-9 mm long. Fruit cup-shaped, 5-9 mm long, 6-8 mm diameter.

Distribution

Restricted to high altitude areas around Mount Canobolassouth west of Orange on the Central Tablelands of NSW, which is within the SouthEastern Highlands Bioregion. The species predominantly occurs in the Mt Canobolas State Recreation Area.
Occurs on basalt-derived soils predominantly above 1,100 mand is most common between 1,200 and 1,300 m altitude but can be found lessabundantly down to 900 m. Above 1,300 m, E.pauciflora becomes more prominent (Hunter 1998a).
Eucalyptus canobolensis israrely found in pure stands and often co-occurs with other eucalypts such as E.pauciflora, E. dalrympleana, E. viminalis, E. macrorhyncha and E. dives withExocarpos cupressiformis and Acacia melanoxylon also in the canopy.

Habitat and ecology

The landform consists of undulating low to steep hills. Soils are shallow skeletal sands and loams on steep slopes. Vegetation is a sub-alpine woodland.
Other trees co-occurring with Eucalyptus canobolensis include Eucalyptus pauciflora, Eucalyptus dalrympleana, Eucalyptus viminalis, Eucalyptus dives and Eucalyptus saxicola. Understorey species include Poa sieberiana and Cassinia arctuata.
Flowering period is listed as January to March. Seed is dispersed locally by wind, and there is no dormancy mechanism.
It has been observed that apparent juveniles of Eucalyptus canobolensis appear to have regenerated more than once from previous fire events and have developed a small but noticeable lignotuber.
The species is common in all parts of Mt Canobolas State Recreation Area, with mixed aged stands comprising seedlings, juveniles and adults.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

South Eastern Highlands

Threats

Blackberry infestations impede regeneration.
Invasion of Pinus radiata seedlings from adjacent State Forests.
Forestry operations (impinging on populations in Glenwood and Canobolas State Forests).
Fire management (may be a threat in some circumstances; repeated fires may limit recruitment and cause mortality).
Global warming and associated climate change (likely to result in a contraction to higher altitudes and possibly extinction in the wild). Other than ensuring there is germplasm in storage there is little that can be done to ameliorate this threat.
High risk of extinction due to restricted distribution.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 6 priority actions to help recover the Silver-Leaf Candlebark in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Ensure fire management is sympathetic to the required fire regime of this species to ensure adequate recruitment and regeneration.
Ensure populations are buffered from forestry activities.
Control blackberry and Pinus escapees outside forestry areas.
Monitor population with particular reference to climate change impacts (relative to altitude).

Information sources

Benson, D. and McDougall, L. (1998) Ecology of Sydney plant species. Part 6 Dicotyledon family Myrtaceae. Cunninghamia 5(4): 808-987.
Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
Brooker, M. and Kleinig, D.A. (1999) Field guide to eucalypts, Volume 1: South-eastern Australia. 2nd edn. Blooming Books, Hawthorn.
Chappill, J.A. and Ladiges, P.Y. (1996) Phylogenetic analysis of Eucalyptus informal subgenus Symphyomyrtus section Maidenaria. Australian Systematic Botany. 9: 71-93.
Hill, K.D. (2002) Eucalyptus. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 2. Revised Edition. (New South Wales University Press: Sydney).
Hunter, J.T. (1998) Eucalyptus canobolensis (Myrtaceae), a new combination for a former subspecies of Eucalyptus rubida. Telopea 8(1) :157-158.
Hunter, J.T. (1998) Threatened Eucalypts of the Central Tablelands. Unpublished report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Maiden, J.H. (1917) A Critical Revision of the Genus Eucalyptus, vol. III. Government Printer: Sydney.