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 pulverulenta
Profile last updated:
21 Sep 2021
Description
The Silver-leafed Gum is a distinctive, straggly mallee or small tree that grows to about 10 m tall. The bark is smooth and grey or bronze, shedding in long strips. The tree is distinctive because of its round, stalkless, paired, waxy, blue-green juvenile leaves, 5 cm long and wide, which are characteristically retained on mature plants. Only rarely are adult leaves produced, these being stalked, lance-shaped and up to 10 cm x 2 cm. The buds occur in clusters of 3 and the large cream-coloured flowers are produced from September to November. The flowers are followed by large gumnuts.
Distribution
The Silver-leafed Gum is found in two quite separate areas, the Lithgow to Bathurst area and the Monaro (Bredbo to Bombala).
Habitat and ecology
- Grows in shallow soils as an understorey plant in open forest, typically dominated by Brittle Gum (Eucalyptus mannifera), Red Stringybark (E. macrorhynca), Broad-leafed Peppermint (E. dives), Silvertop Ash (E. sieberi) and Apple Box (E. bridgesiana).
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Lack of regeneration through grazing pressure.
- At risk from catastrophic events because of small number of extant populations and low number of plants.
- Browsing and trampling by domestic stock and feral goats.
- Habitat loss and fragmentation.
- Maintenance and/or widening of fire trails causes major disturbance.
- Inhibited recruitment, and threats to seedlings via non-target impacts from weed control measures; chemical spraying and/or physical removal.
- Browse young plants and inhibit recruitment.
- Current or potential future land management practices do not support conservation.
- Blackberries and Serrated Tussock are two weed species that are known to be close to a few populations. Most populations remain relatively weed free due to the low fertility soils in which the species generally grows.
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
5 priority actions
to help recover the Silver-leafed Gum in New South Wales.
Activities to assist this species
- Encourage regeneration by fencing remnants, controlling stock grazing and undertaking supplementary planting or direct sowing of this species, if necessary.
- Conduct further survey in potential habitat to look for other populations.
Information sources
- Bell, D.T. and Williams, J.E. (1997) Eucalypt ecophysiology. Pp. 168-196 in Williams, J.E. and Woinarski, J.C.Z. (eds) Eucalypt Ecology. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
- 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.
- CANB Herbarium Records. () Databased specimen records from the Canberra Botanic Gardens and Australian National Botanic Gardens (CSIRO and Australian National Botanic Gardens: Canberra).
- Carolin, R. and Tindale, M. (1994) Flora of the Sydney region. 4th Edition (Reed: Sydney).
- Chippendale, G.M. (1988) Myrtaceae. 1. Eucalyptus. Flora of Australia 19: 1-448.
- Fairley, A. and Moore, P. (1989) Native Plants of the Sydney District (Kangaroo Press: Sydney).
- Hall, N. (1972) Silver-Leaved Mountain Gum. Eucalyptus pulverulenta Sims. Forest Tree Series No. 28 (Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra).
- Hill, K.D. (1989) Mallee eucalypt communities: their classification and biogeography. In Noble, J.C and Bradstock, R.A. Mediterranean Landscapes in Australia. Mallee Ecosystems and their Management (CSIRO Publications: Melbourne).
- Hill, K.D. (1991) Eucalyptus. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 2 (New South Wales University Press: Sydney).
- MEL Herbarium Records. () Databased specimen records from the National Herbarium of Victoria (Royal Botanic Gardens: Melbourne).
- National Herbarium of NSW () Herbarium collection notes, letters and illustrations.
- NSW Herbarium Records. () Databased specimen records from the National Herbarium of New South Wales (Royal Botanic Gardens: Sydney).
- Peters, G.B., Lonie, J.S. and Moran, G.F. (1990) The breeding system, genetic diversity and pollen sterility in Eucalyptus pulverulenta, a rare species with small disjunct populations. Australian Journal of Botany 38: 559-570.
- Sims, J. (1819) Eucalyptus pulverulenta. Heart-Leaved Eucalyptus. Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 46: t. 2087.
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