Eucalyptus erythrocorys
Eucalyptus erythrocorys, commonly known as illyarrie, red-capped gum or helmet nut gum, is a species of tree or mallee from Western Australia. It has smooth bark, sickle-shaped to curved adult leaves, characteristically large flower buds in groups of three with a bright red operculum, bright yellow to yellowish green flowers and sculptured, bell-shaped fruit. Description. "Eucalyptus erythrocorys" is a small tree or a mallee, with an open spreading habit and typically grows to a height of and a width of . The bark is smooth with a creamy colour but can have a few rough brown  coloured patches where it persists on the trunk instead of being shed. The smooth bark sheds in short ribbons or small polygonal flakes. Young plants and coppice regrowth have hairy stems, broadly lance-shaped to egg-shaped or heart-shaped leaves long and wide. The adult leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, sickle-shaped, lance-shaped or curved, and wide on a flattened or channelled petiole long. They are thick, the same glossy green colour on both sides. The flower buds are arranged in leaf axils in groups of three on a peduncle long, the individual buds on a pedicel  long. Mature buds are oval, long and wide with a flattened, bright red operculum that has four lobes. The flowers are bright yellow to greenish and appear between February and April and have the stamens arranged in four bundles. The fruit is a woody, broadly bell-shaped capsule long and wide. Sometimes the fruit are so numerous that they weight the tree down, giving it a weeping habit. Taxonomy. "Eucalyptus erythrocorys" was first formally described by Ferdinand von Mueller in 1860 in "Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae". The type specimen was collected by Augustus Frederick Oldfield in 1858 from along the Murchison  River and is cited as "Ad flumen Murchison et sinum squalorum versus in planitibus petraeis". The species is a member of the sub-genus "Eudesmia", a group that has stamens in four bundles each at the corner of the squarish flower. It is in a sub-group that includes "E. pleurocarpa". The species name "erythrocorys" is taken from the Greek words "erythro" meaning "red" and "korys" meaning "helmet" in reference to the bright red operculum. The common name "Illyarrie", is the Noongar peoples' name for the plant. Distribution. The species has a limited distribution north of Perth where it is  found on undulating limestone ridges and outcrops growing in sandy alkaline soils near Dongara as well as north of Kalbarri National Park. It is also found on sandy plains, particularly the Geraldton Sandplains between Shark Bay and Jurien. Conservation status. Illyarie is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. Cultivation. The plant is sold commercially in seed form or as tube stock and is a popular species throughout Australia. The seeds germinate readily. It can become untidy but is easily kept in shape with a light pruning. The colourful flowers make it appealing  to nectar loving birds. The trees are known to shed limbs as a result of the weight of the fruit they carry. It is reasonably fast growing and both drought and smog resistant but can be frost tender. It prefers a position in full sun, in well-drained soils and can be grown in containers and in coastal locations. The flowers are used in wreaths.