Eucalyptus acmenoides, the White Mahogany is a common eucalyptus

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...

 tree of eastern Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. In the northern part of Sydney

Sydney

Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...

, where this tree grows on clay soils, the indigenous

Indigenous Australians

Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....

 name is Barayly.

According to Joseph Maiden

Joseph Maiden

Joseph Henry Maiden was a botanist who made a major contribution to knowledge of the Australian flora, especially the Eucalyptus genus. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Maiden when citing a botanical name.Joseph Maiden was born in St John's Wood, London...

, the specific epithet acmenoides refers to Schauer

Johannes Conrad Schauer

Johannes Conrad Schauer was a botanist interested in Spermatophytes. He was a professor of botany at the University of Greifswald. Amongst his published works are descriptions of the myrtles of Western Australia.-References:...

's observation of a supposed similarity with the leaves of the rainforest tree Lilly Pilly, previously known as Acmena smithii. However, any similarity with the two types of leaves appears obscure. (See leaf photo comparison below).

Sometimes referred to as the Yellow Stringybark in parts of Queensland

Queensland

Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...

. However, despite the rough and somewhat stringy bark, this tree is considered by scientists to be in the mahogany group of eucalyptus.

The original specimen was collected by Allan Cunningham

Allan Cunningham (botanist)

Allan Cunningham was an English botanist and explorer, primarily known for his travels in New South Wales to collect plants.- Early life :...

 from an un-recorded forest in the state of New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

, in January 1817. First published by Schauer

Johannes Conrad Schauer

Johannes Conrad Schauer was a botanist interested in Spermatophytes. He was a professor of botany at the University of Greifswald. Amongst his published works are descriptions of the myrtles of Western Australia.-References:...

 in Walpers, W.G. (1843), Repertorium Botanices Systematicae 2(5): 924

Habitat

The range of distribution is deeper soils with high moisture levels, from Port Jackson

Port Jackson

Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...

 (Sydney) north to tropical Queensland

Queensland

Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...

.

The altitude range of this tree is between sea level and 1000 metres above sea level. The climate is warm humid to tropical; with an annual average rainfall from 1000 mm to 1700 mm.

Description

A tree with fibrous, thin, greyish fawn bark, somewhat stringy. Adult leaves are thin, paler on the lower side. In exceptional circumstances it may grow to 60 metres in height, though is mostly seen between 20 and 35 metres tall.

Timber

White Mahogany is well regarded for the high quality of timber. The timber has various uses, including heavy engineering, poles, railway sleepers, bridge and wharf construction, framing, decking stumps, fence posts, joists, flooring, plates and weatherboarding.

The sapwood is usually not attacked by the lyctus

Lyctus brunneus

Lyctus brunneus is a species of beetle in the family Bostrichidae , with a worldwide distribution, being present in tropical Africa, Oceania, the Palearctic , the Nearctic, the Neotropics, North Africa and East Asia. It is absent from the Near East...

 borer. Heartwood is light, of a pale yellowish brown. The texture is medium and even. Grain structure is uniform, however at times it can be interlocked.

Timber somewhat similar to the Tallowwood

Tallowwood

Tallowwood is a native Eucalypt species common in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. It grows in forests near the coast on moderate to fertile soils in a protected, sunny position. Tallowwood is drought and frost tender....

, but not quite as greasy. Wood resistant to termites. Timber is hard, heavy, strong, tough and durable. Around 1000 kilograms per cubic metre.