About Eucalyptus gamophylla F.Muell.
Eucalyptus gamophylla F.Muell. is a mallee that typically grows to a height of 1.5 to 7 metres (5 to 23 ft), forms a lignotuber, and sometimes has an almost prostrate growth habit. It usually has smooth white, cream-coloured, or brown bark that is shed in short ribbons, though a stocking of rough, hard, stringy-fibrous bark is sometimes present at the base. Most of the leaves on this species are juvenile: they are sessile, arranged in opposite pairs (sometimes with joined bases), glaucous, and egg-shaped to heart-shaped, measuring 35–100 mm (1.4–3.9 in) long and 20–60 mm (0.79–2.36 in) wide. When adult leaves are present, they are roughly arranged in opposite pairs, the same dull greyish green on both sides, sessile, 40–100 mm (1.6–3.9 in) long, 9–20 mm (0.35–0.79 in) wide, and grow from a petiole 1–6 mm (0.039–0.236 in) long.
Flower buds of Eucalyptus gamophylla grow in groups of three on a 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long peduncle, with individual buds attached to 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) long pedicels. Mature buds are club-shaped to pear-shaped, 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide, with a rounded operculum. Flowering can occur in most months of the year, depending on habitat, and in some areas it happens after rain. The flowers are whitish, and the fruit is a woody conical, cylindrical, bell-shaped, or barrel-shaped capsule that is four-sided in cross-section, measuring 5–14 mm (0.20–0.55 in) long and 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) wide.
Also known as Warilu, this eucalyptus is found on sandplains, sand dunes, and stony spinifex country. Its range extends from the Mid West, Pilbara, and Goldfields-Esperance regions of central Western Australia east into central and southern areas of the Northern Territory, and to the far north of South Australia. Common species that associate with Eucalyptus gamophylla include Triodia basedowii, Acacia ligulata, Acacia georginae, Eremophila longifolia, and Eragrostis eriopoda.
In horticulture, Eucalyptus gamophylla is drought tolerant and cold hardy, able to tolerate temperatures as low as 10 to 15 °F (−12 to −9 °C) and is frost tolerant. When grown in gardens, it attracts birds, grows quickly, requires very little maintenance, and produces abundant aromatic cut foliage suitable for use in flower arrangements.
