Indicative distribution
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 mckieana
Profile last updated:
21 Jan 2019
Description
A medium sized tree about 25 m tall with red-brown stringy or fibrous bark extending to the ends of the branches. The juvenile leaves are bristly and very narrow, and adult leaves are glossy or grey-green, 6 - 9 cm long and 1 - 2 cm wide. The gumnuts are ball-shaped, 5 - 7 mm wide, and grow clustered in groups of eleven or more. Eucalyptus mckieana is one of a group of related stringybark species which have hairy seedlings, reticulate venation (i.e. forming a network) on the adult leaves, numerous oil glands, buds in 7’s or more and inflorescences which are axillary (in the leaf axis), not clustered terminally. The species is distinguished by the ascending disc of the fruits, the clearly stalked buds and fruits, and the concolorous leaves. The juvenile leaves are also narrower than in related species.
Distribution
Confined to the drier western side of the New England Tablelands of NSW, from Torrington to Bendemeer. Most populations occur on private property, but it does occur in Kings Plain National Park, Torrington State Conservation Area and Severn River Nature Reserve.
Habitat and ecology
- Flowers are white, with a flowering period of March to May.
- The species is remarkable for its very narrow and numerous sucker leaves, the narrowest of all the stringybarks and which persist to a height of 2 to 4 metres.
- Eucalyptus mckieana is found in grassy open forest or woodland on poor sandy loams, most commonly on gently sloping or flat sites.
- Associated species at Northern Tablelands sites include Angophora floribunda, Eucalyptus amplifolia, Eucalyptus andrewsii, Eucalyptus bridgesiana, Eucalyptus youmanii, Eucalyptus nicholii, Eucalyptus blakelyi and Eucalyptus conica, and at North Western Slopes sites Eucalyptus andrewsii, Eucalyptus stannicola, Eucalyptus prava and Angophora floribunda.
- Resprouts from epicormic buds after fire.
- McKie’s Stringybark is locally abundant, forming in places a moderately dense forest in association with other local trees. A single population of 33 plants is known from Torrington State Conservation Area. Plants have also been recorded in populations with abundances of locally common to locally abundant
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Clearing and fragmentation of habitat for agriculture and development, including clearing for fence lines.
- Heavy grazing and trampling of seedlings by domestic stock result in a loss of recruitment in pasture sites
- Destruction of trees and disturbance of habitat by timber-harvesting activities.
- Collection of firewood.
- Rural subdivision.
- Vegetation clearing along roadsides, particularly in response to fires.
- Increasing threat of deer and goats have been observed to have an impact on seedlings by trampling seedlings.
- Destruction of habitat as a result of mining activities.
- Pasture weeds (including whisky grass, African love grass and especially Coolatai grass) outcompete seedlings and increase the likelihood and intensity of fires.
- Vegetation clearing from rural subdivision including small holdings with large buffers around properties.
- Illegal logging of the species and firewood collection on public land or crown land.
- Prolonged drought conditions and drying soils from climate change leading to population declines.
- Browsing by goats and feral deer. Goats and deer are present by uncertain whether they browse this species.
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
12 priority actions
to help recover the McKie's Stringybark in New South Wales.
Activities to assist this species
- Retain and protect areas known and potential habitat from clearing and fragmentation.
- Support local Landcare groups promote the identification of the species and implement on-ground protection works.
- Protect regenerating populations from grazing stock.
- Identify and protect populations in timber-harvesting areas.
- Minimise firewood collection in areas of known habitat.
- Rehabilitate and protect disturbed areas of habitat.
- Maintain viable ex-situ seedbank and/or living collection.
- Undertake surveys to identify unrecorded populations.
- Protect known roadside populations from distrubance.
- Undertake control of feral goats and rabbits in areas of known habitat.
- Ensure appropriate advice for the protection of the species is provided to planning authorities.
- Monitor population dynamics and threats of known populations.
Information sources
- Baker, R.T. (1899) Three new species of Eucalyptus. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales Series 2 24: 298.
- Blakely, W.F. (1930) Another New Species of Eucalyptus from New England. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales Series 2 55(5): 594, pl. xxxi.
- 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.
- Brooker, M.I.H. (2000) A New Classification of the Genus Eucalyptus L’Hér. (Myrtaceae). Australian Systematic Botany 13(1): 79-148
- Chippendale, G.M. (1988) 1. Eucalyptus. 131. Eucalyptus mckieana Blakely. In George, A.S. (Ed) Flora of Australia 19: 154.
- Harden, G.J. (ed.) (2002) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 2, Revised Edition. UNSW, Sydney.
- Hunter, J.T., Clarke, P.J., Copeland, L.M., Nano, C.E., Williams, J.B. and Wills, K.E. (1998) The Vegetation and Plant Species of Torrington State Recreation Area (Division of Botany, University of New England, Armidale).
- NSW Herbarium Records. () Databased specimen records from the National Herbarium of New South Wales (Royal Botanic Gardens: Sydney).
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) Threatened Species of the New England Tablelands and North West Slopes of NSW. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) Torrington State Conservation Area Plan of Management.
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