Eucalyptus minniritchi of Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara
The Australian Seed Bank Partnership worked with Aṉangu Traditional Owners to secure seed for valuable conservation collections
By Australian Seed Bank Partnership
South Australian Seed Conservation Centre, Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, South Australia
Eucalyptus minniritchie habit Mt Woodroffe (2015) by Dan DuvalAustralian Seed Bank Partnership
Mount Woodroffe
John’s contacts with traditional owners enabled a visit to Mt Woodroffe. The range rises 700 metres above the plains, reaching over 1,400 metres at its highest peak. It's an exciting place to collect seeds as it holds several records for rare South Australian species.
Rare species
Restricted to the upward slopes of this mountain range grows a species very rare in South Australia, Eucalyptus miniritchie. While at Mount Woodroffe, Dan collected seeds of E. minniritchi, in addition to some other rare plants.
Eucalyptus minniritchie habit Mt Woodroffe (2015) by Dan DuvalAustralian Seed Bank Partnership
Eucalyptus minniritchi only grows on high ridges and between boulders in open mallee (Eucalypt) shrubland. The name minniritchi is of Aboriginal origin and refers to the distinctive red, peeling bark.
Eucalyptus minniritchie bark Mt Woodroffe (2015) by Dan DuvalAustralian Seed Bank Partnership
A-peeling
The bark peels off the branches and trunk in long strips, revealing greenish-yellow bark beneath. As a mallee tree, Eucalyptus minniritchi reaches four metres in height. The term mallee is another Aboriginal word referring to groups of Eucalypts with shared features, such as being under 10 metres tall and having many stems.
Eucalyptus minniritchie fruits Mt Woodroffe (2015) by Dan DuvalAustralian Seed Bank Partnership
Hearts and flowers
Eucalyptus minniritchi can also be identified by its dull, waxy blue-green leaves which are heart shaped when they first begin growing. After rain this species produces lemon coloured flowers. These distinctive Eucalyptus-style flowers have no petals - thin, yellow stamens shoot out from a central point creating a fluffy sphere.
There are over 800 types of Eucalyptus, also called gum trees or eucalypts. Belonging in the Myrtaceae or Myrtle family including the guava, allspice and clove trees. Most Eucalyptus species are endemic to Australia and best known internationally as the food trees for koalas.
Fussy eaters
Koalas are one of the few species which feed solely on eucalyptus leaves as they contain an essential oil which can be toxic in large quantities. These endemic marsupials are fussy eaters preferring leaves from only 30 eucalyptus species out of the 822 species within the genus.
The Global Tree Seed Bank Project
Seeds from Eucalyptus minniritchi and other threatened tree species from South Australia are being securely stored at the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre and duplicated at the UK Millennium Seed Bank.
Learn more about the South Australian Seed Conservation Center here.
Stories compiled through a science communication internship at the Australian Seed Bank Partnership with Master of Science Communication student Christine Fernance from the ANU Centre for the Public Awareness of Science.
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