Mottlecah Opening

Mottlecah, Eucalyptus macrocarpa, is one of most dramatically-flowering of all eucalypts, though the tree itself is small and scrubby (of mallee form, multi-stemmed, growing from a subterranean lignotuber). The silvery stalkless leaves are up to 12cm long, while the magnificent red flowers are more than 10cm across! Nearly all eastern Australian eucalypts are white-flowered and are unusually generalist in their pollinators - birds, insects and bats are all involved - but many of the Western Australian species, including Mottlecah, specialise in birds, especially honeyeaters such as the Western (Little) Wattlebird.

Mottlecah, Yandin Lookout Road, north of Perth.
Above, bud cap about to drop to reveal the flower.

Back tomorrow!