Eucalyptus × brachyphylla is a mallee or small tree that is endemic to a small area in Western Australia. It has rough bark near the base of the trunk, smooth greyish bark above, egg-shaped to elliptic adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven in leaf axils, white flowers and conical fruit.
Eucalyptus × brachyphylla is a mallee or small tree that typically grows to a height of 4m (13feet) and forms a lignotuber. The lower part of the trunk is rough with partly shed strips of greyish bark but the upper trunk and branches have smooth bronze-coloured and dark grey bark. The smaller branches are glaucous (covered with a pale, powdery bloom). The leaves on young plants and on coppice regrowth are glaucous, triangular to egg-shaped or more or less circular, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide and have a petiole. Adult leaves are egg-shaped to elliptic, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide and dull greyish green or glaucous on a petiole NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long. The flower buds are arranged in groups of seven in leaf axils on a peduncle NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long, the individual buds on a pedicel NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long. Mature buds are oval, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long, about 3sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide with a conical operculum. Flowering occurs in June and between August and September and the flowers are white. The fruit are conical, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide with the valves enclosed or level with the rim.[1] [2]
Eucalyptus brachyphylla was first formally described in 1943 by Charles Gardner from a specimen collected near Lake Cowan by George Brockway.[3] [4] [5] In 1996 Peter Grayling and Ian Brooker proposed that E. brachyphylla is a hybrid between E. kruseana and E. loxophleba and this interpretation is accepted by the Australian Plant Census.[6] The specific epithet (brachyphylla) is from the Ancient Greek brachys meaning "short"[7] and phyllon meaning "leaf".
This eucalypt is only known from near Kalgoorlie, Cardunia Rock north of Karonie and Widgiemooltha where it usually grows near granite outcrops in undulating country.
Eucalyptus × brachyphylla is classified as "Priority Four" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife, meaning that is rare or near threatened.[8]