Eucalyptus synandra

Eucalyptus synandra

Family: Myrtaceae
Distribution: Several small populations on sandy and gravelly soils of inland, southern Western Australia
Common Name: Jingymia mallee
Conservation Status: Listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act* (ie. facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future, as determined in accordance with prescribed criteria). Probable classification 2V under the ROTAP* system
Derivation of Name: Eucalyptus…from Greek, eu, well and calyptos, covered referring to the cap which covers the developing flowers.
synandra… Stamens united for part of their length

General Description:

Eucalyptus synandra is uncommon in the wild and in cultivation. It is a tall shrub or small tree of mallee (multi-stemmed) habit) growing up to 5-6 metres tall. The leaves are linear to narrowly elliptic in shape about 200 mm long. The smooth bark is greyish and is shed annually. Flowers are very conspicuous and are initially white but age to deep pink or red with the stamens being united into a tube for the lower portion of the flowers. Flowering occurs in late spring and summer.

To date this species has not been cultivated to any great extent, however, this is certain to change as the plant becomes better known. It is a spectacular small tree for drier climates, ideally suited to average sized gardens. Its suitablity for more humid areas is not known but may be expected to present a challenge (which would certainly be worth the effort). The plant appears to be reasonably cold-tolerant and has flowered at the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra. Soils with reasonable drainage are preferred.

A feature of the plant is that it is probably the most precocious of all the eucalypts, sometimes flowering when only 15 cm tall.

Propagation is from seed which germinates readily.