About Eucalyptus microcarpa (Maiden) Maiden
Eucalyptus microcarpa (Maiden) Maiden is a spreading tree that sometimes develops several trunks. It typically grows to 25 metres (82 feet) in height and forms a lignotuber. Rough, fibrous or flaky bark covers the trunk and extends out to its larger branches, while the bark on upper sections of the tree is smooth, with a greyish or whitish colour. Young plants and coppice regrowth have dull green to bluish leaves that are petiolate, measuring 60–150 mm (2.4–5.9 in) long and 40–55 mm (1.6–2.2 in) wide. Adult leaves are the same shade of green on both sides, are lance-shaped, and measure 60–150 mm (2.4–5.9 in) long, 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) wide, growing from a petiole 5–20 mm (0.20–0.79 in) long. Flower buds are arranged in groups of seven to eleven on a branched peduncle. The peduncle is 3–10 mm (0.12–0.39 in) long, and each individual bud grows from a pedicel 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) long. Mature buds are oval to spindle-shaped or diamond-shaped, 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) wide, with a conical to beaked operculum. Flowering occurs between February and June, and the flowers are white or cream-coloured. The fruit is a woody capsule shaped like a cup, cylinder or barrel. It is 3–9 mm (0.12–0.35 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) wide, with valves that sit near or below the rim of the capsule. This species occurs in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. In New South Wales and Victoria, it grows mostly inland from the Great Dividing Range, and on the Victorian Volcanic Plain from the Wimmera in the west to south of Benalla. The northernmost known population is found in south-eastern Queensland, reaching as far north as Bollon and Charleville. It grows in association with grassy woodland and loamy soils.
