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.
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click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Eucalyptus fracta
Gazetted date:
13 Sep 2024
Profile last updated:
16 Sep 2024
Description
Small tree or mallee to 8 m tall with grey-black ironbark on trunk and larger branches, and smooth whitish bark on smaller branches. Juvenile leaves are circular, blue-green and dull. The adult leaves are spear-shaped, 7-11 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide, grey-green and glossy. Buds spindle-shaped, 6-8 mm long, 2-3 mm wide. The bud cap is rounded. The gum nut is cup-shaped, 5-8 mm long, 5-7 mm wide. Broken Back Ironbark can be distinguished from the closely related Grey Ironbark Eucalyptus siderophloia by its smaller size, smaller and more rounded juvenile leaves, broader fruit, and shape of buds.
Distribution
Confined largely to State Forest. Locally common but restricted to the northern Broken Back Range near Cessnock, NSW.
Habitat and ecology
- The dominant tree in a narrow band along the upper edge of a sandstone escarpment. Occurs in dry eucalypt woodland in shallow soils.
- Associated species in slightly deeper soils include Eucalyptus sparsifolia, E. punctata, Corymbia maculata and,Angophora euryphylla.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Track maintenance.
- Risk of extinction due to restricted distribution.
- Collection for firewood.
- Some potential for disturbance due to insensitive land use practises; direct physical disturbance and/or too frequent fire.
- Potential for two fires in short succession (<10 years) to adversely affect the species' reproduction / persistence (threat likely to intensify with climate change)
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
7 priority actions
to help recover the Broken Back Ironbark in New South Wales.
Activities to assist this species
- Protect species from fire and other threats until more is known about ecological and biological requirements.
- Control firewood collection.
- Accurate mapping of population to assist with roadside management.
- Survey potential habitat for new populations.
Information sources
- Hill, K.D. (1997) New species in Angophora and Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) from New South Wales. Telopea 7(2): 97-109
- NSW Scientific Committee (1999) Eucalyptus fracta - Vulnerable species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.
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