Eucalyptus wilcoxii (Myrtaceae), a New Species from South-eastern New South Wales

Abstract

A new species, Eucalyptus wilcoxii Boland & Kleinig, is described. Its taxonomic position is in subgenus Symphyomyrtus, series Viminales following the informal classification of eucalypts proposed by Pryor and Johnson. In adult characters it superficially resembles E. baeuerlenii F. Muell. but differs markedly from that species in its shortly petiolate and narrow-elliptical seedling and juvenile leaves and in its smaller and shortly pedicellate fruit. The species is known only from the vicinity of Mother Woila Mountain in Deua National Park, New South Wales. Evidence for recognition of this taxon was gathered from the comparative morphology of E. wilcoxii and E. baeuerlenii. The oil composition of adult leaves and isozyme analyses of seeds showed clear differences although the wood anatomy was not distinguishable between the two species. The ecology, distribution, taxonomic status, natural affinities and conservation status of E. wilcoxii are discussed.