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Mallees in May

Most mallee species are eucalypts, and more than half of Eucalyptus species are mallees.

Their generally modest height and oft-“untidy”/“shaggy” appearance blind some people to mallees’ beauty, their great diversity, and their oft-astonishing buds and flowers.

As with so many Australian species, the closer you look, the more spectacular, surprising and glorious they are.

 

If you do not already know exactly what mallee are/is, click here.

Click this for a nicely-illustrated and myth-busting American perspective on Australia’s mallee eucalypts.

This post’s photos were all taken in Perth’s Kings Park on the afternoon of 20 May 2021.

Many mallees – West Australian species, most especially – have incredible, large flowers.

Their buds are often almost as spectacular, and sometimes rather more bizarre.

 

 

Kings Park, 1.10 pm, 20 May 2021. All photos copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

Kings Park, 1.06 pm, 20 May 2021. All photos copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

 

Kings Park, 1.09 pm, 20 May 2021. All photos copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

The above two images show the same species –  Eucalyptus youngiana, I think.

Its common names: large-fruited mallee, Ooldea mallee and yarldariba.

If someone can positively identify this post’s other species, I’d be glad to know.

I am sure that it – in both images below, and featured image – is neither mottlecah, Eucalyptus macrocarpa (which has the largest flower on any Eucalyptus species) nor rose mallee, Eucalyptus rhodantha.

 

 

Kings Park, 3.25 pm, 20 May 2021. All photos copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

King’s Park, 3.20 pm, 20 May 2021. All photos copyright Doug Spencer.

Published in nature and travel photographs Western Australia

One Comment

  1. Geraldine O'Brien Geraldine O'Brien

    Spectacular!

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