Analysis of a hybrid swarm involving Eucalyptus crenulata and E. ovata using leaf oils and morphology

The morphology and leaf oils of naturally occurring Eucalyptus crenulata, E. ovata and presumed hybrids between them were analysed. The nine hybrid trees found all showed intermediacy between the parents in either morphology or oils or both. Morphological and oils characters were not always strongly linked. Field distribution data also suggest hybrid origin. It is suggested that leaf oils may be much more valuable as characters in Eucalyptus taxonomy than has previously been thought.