Eucalyptus cunninghamii

Cliff Mallee Ash
Cliff Mallee Ash with the Grose Valley in the background, Blue Mountains National Park, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Eucalyptus
Species:	E. cunninghamii
Binomial name
Eucalyptus cunninghamii G.Don
Synonyms
Eucalyptus rupicola L.A.S.Johnson & Blaxell

Eucalyptus cunninghamii is a small plant which grows in the Blue Mountains of eastern Australia. The common name is Cliff Mallee Ash. It is one of the smallest of all the many hundreds of the eucalyptus genus. Some of which grow to enormous size.

However, some mature plants of the Cliff Mallee Ash are less than a metre tall. Often seen around 1.5 metres tall. Rarely reaching three metres in height. Despite being locally abundant, it is a rare plant, with a ROTAP rating of 2RCa. Named after the Australian explorer, Allan Cunningham. Recognized by the small narrow leaves, slightly paler on one side of the leaf. The habitat is poor shallow soil in high rainfall areas, with regular fires and occasional snow.

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  grey multi-stemmed mallee base of Eucalyptus cunninghamii, Blue Mountains National Park

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  leaves of Eucalyptus cunninghamii, Blue Mountains National Park

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  unopened fruit of Eucalyptus cunninghamii. 5 to 7 mm long, Blue Mountains National Park

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  exposed cliff tops with shallow rocky soils are the preferred habitat of Eucalyptus cunninghamii, Blue Mountains National Park

References

• "Eucalyptus cunninghamii". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Eucalyptus~cunninghamii. Retrieved 2010-05-25. 
• A Field Guide to Eucalypts - Brooker & Kleinig volume 1, ISBN 0909605629 page 102