Eucalyptus benthamii
| Camden white gum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Eucalyptus |
| Species: | E. benthamii |
| Binomial name | |
| Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden & Cambage | |
Eucalyptus benthamii, commonly known as Camden white gum or Nepean River gum, is a species of Eucalyptus endemic to eastern Australia. It was first described by Joseph Maiden and Richard Hind Cambage in 1915,[1] who named it in honour of George Bentham.[2] It is related to E. viminalis.[3] Eucalyptus dorrigoensis is a species from the Dorrigo Plateau that was previously classified as a subspecies, but does not appear especially related.[2]
Description
Eucalyptus benthamii grows as a tall tree to 35 or 40 metres (115 or 131 ft) high, with a trunk diameter attaining 1.5 metres (4.9 ft).[2][4] The bark is smooth and white, and peels away in ribbons. The white flowerheads are arranged in groups of seven and appear in autumn from March to May.[4]
Status
Classified by the New South Wales and Federal Governments as vulnerable, Eucalyptus benthamii is known from two main populations—at Kedumba Valley in the Blue Mountains National Park and at Bents Basin State Recreation Area south of Wallacia—and scattered trees around Camden, Cobbity and Nattai National Park.[5] Some 10,000 trees are estimated to grow at Kedumba and about 400 at Bents Basin. Land clearing and the flooding of most of its distribution range to create Warragamba Dam have severely impacted its population.[3]
Habitat
Eucalyptus benthamii grows on alluvial plains on sand or loam over clay along the Nepean River and tributaries, in tall open forest, where it either forms a pure stand or is found with other eucalypts such as mountain blue gum (E. deanei) and river peppermint (E. elata).[2] Other associated trees include grey box (E. moluccana), forest red gum (E. tereticornis),[2] grey gum (E. punctata), cabbage gum (E. amplifolia), narrow-leaved ironbark (E. crebra) and broad-leaved apple (Angophora subvelutina), while associated understory species include blackthorn (Bursaria spinosa), bracken (Pteridium esculentum) tantoon (Leptospermum polygalifolium) and fern-leaved wattle (Acacia filicifolia).[5]
Cultivation
A fast-growing and adaptable tree in cultivation, Eucalyptus benthamii is being investigated in South Africa and South America for pulpwood plantations.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ "Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden & Cambage". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Boland, Douglas J.; Brooker, M. I. H.; Chippendale, G. M.; McDonald, Maurice William (2006). Forest trees of Australia. Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. p. 396. ISBN 0-643-06969-0.
- 1 2 Skinner, Alison (2003). "The effects of tree isolation on the genetic diversity and seed production of Camden White Gum (Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden et Cambage).". Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- 1 2 Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (1998). "Ecology of Sydney plant species:Part 6 Dicotyledon family Myrtaceae" (PDF). Cunninghamia. 5 (4): 809–987.
- 1 2 NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (1 September 2005). "Camden White Gum - profile". Threatened species, populations & ecological communities in NSW. State Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ↑ International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, DANIDA Forest Seed Centre (2001). Forest Genetic Resources Conservation and Management: Overview, concepts and some systematic approaches. Bioversity International. p. 16. ISBN 92-9043-648-4.