Spider Gum

Appearance

This mallee or tree typically grows to a height of 2 to 8 metres and has smooth, grey and whitish bark and a bushy habit. Adult leaves are elliptical to oblong or egg-shaped, 40–90 mm long, 10–30 mm wide and the same glossy, light green colour on both surfaces. The flower buds are arranged in groups of between fifteen and twenty one or more in leaf axils on a broad, strap-like peduncle 30–70 mm long. The buds are fused at the hypanthium with only the upper part free. The combined length of the fused hypanthia and each operculum is about 30–45 mm. The operculum is horn-shaped and about four to six times the length of the fused hypanthia. Green to yellow-green flowers appear from late winter to late spring between August and November. The fruit are fused to form a woody mass 14–26 mm wide with three valves extending beyond the rim but remaining fused at their tips. The seeds are blackish brown with a flattened-ovoid to cuboid shape and are released through the gap between the valves.

Distribution

Native distribution is limited to the south of Western Australia, from Two Peoples Bay east to beyond Esperance, including islands in the Archipelago of the Recherche. It is always found in coastal areas, often on massive granite rocks. It is often found on hillsides and in gullies growing in sandy-loamy soils over granite or quartzite.

The species has become naturalised in other parts of the Southwest region of Western Australia, via revegetation projects, windbreaks, and as a garden escapee. "E. conferruminata" has a limited distribution in Victoria where it has become sparingly established in the Gippsland and Wimmera areas after having spread by seed dispersal from planted trees. The species, once sold as "Eucalyptus lehmannii", has also become naturalised in California.

The subspecies most commonly cultivated in coastal regions of southern Australia, including in metropolitan areas of Perth and Adelaide is subspecies "recherche". Subspecies "conferruminata" is endemic to the Recherche Archipelago and does not occur naturally on the mainland.

Cultural

The plant is sold commercially as an ornamental, wind break or for erosion control. It will tolerate drought once established, moderate frost and grows in a variety of soil types including waterlogged soils.