Eucalyptus benthamii
Encyclopedia
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, who named it in honour of George Bentham
. It is related to E. viminalis. Eucalyptus dorrigoensis
is a species from the Dorrigo Plateau
that was previously classified as a subspecies, but does not appear especially related.
Eucalyptus benthamii grows as a tall tree to 35 or high, with a trunk diameter attaining 1.5 metres (4.9 ft). 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.
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
. 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. 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
). Other associated trees include grey box (E. moluccana
), forest red gum (E. tereticornis
), 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
).
A fast growing and adaptable tree in cultivation, Eucalyptus benthamii is being investigated in South Africa and South America for pulpwood plantations.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
endemic to 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...
. It was first described by 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...
and Richard Hind Cambage
Richard Hind Cambage
Richard Hind Cambage was an Australian surveyor and botanist who made important contributions to the description of the genera Acacia and Eucalyptus.-Early life:...
in 1915, who named it in honour of George Bentham
George Bentham
George Bentham CMG FRS was an English botanist, characterized by Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century".- Formative years :...
. It is related to E. viminalis. Eucalyptus dorrigoensis
Eucalyptus dorrigoensis
Eucalyptus dorrigoensis, commonly known as the Dorrigo white gum, is a species of eucalypt native to eastern Australia....
is a species from the Dorrigo Plateau
Dorrigo Plateau
Dorrigo Plateau is a plateau in northern New South Wales, which forms part of the Great Dividing Range. The plateau is sometimes referred to as the Dorrigo & Guy Fawkes Plateau....
that was previously classified as a subspecies, but does not appear especially related.
Eucalyptus benthamii grows as a tall tree to 35 or high, with a trunk diameter attaining 1.5 metres (4.9 ft). 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.
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
Blue Mountains National Park
The Blue Mountains National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 81 km west of Sydney, and located in the Blue Mountains region of the Great Dividing Range. The park covers 268,987 hectares. The boundary of the park is quite irregular as it is broken up by roads, urban areas...
and at Bents Basin State Recreation Area south of Wallacia
Wallacia, New South Wales
Wallacia is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Wallacia is located 68 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of the City of Penrith and Wollondilly Shire...
—and scattered trees around Camden, Cobbity and Nattai National Park
Nattai National Park
Nattai is a national park in New South Wales , 150 km southwest of Sydney. It is part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, and primarily encompasses the valley of the Nattai River, which is surrounded by spectacular sandstone cliffs. The park is covered in dry sclerophyll forest...
. 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
Warragamba Dam
Warragamba Dam is the primary water source for the Australian city of Sydney. It is approximately to the west of Sydney on the Warragamba River, a tributary of the Hawkesbury River, and impounds Lake Burragorang.- Overview :...
have severely impacted its population. 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
Eucalyptus deanei
Eucalyptus deanei, the Mountain Blue Gum is a eucalyptus tree of mountain country of central New South Wales. Eucalyptus deanei is a large to very large tree, usually 30 to 50 metres tall, sometimes achieving a much greater height...
) and river peppermint (E. elata
Eucalyptus elata
Eucalyptus elata, River peppermint, River white gum, is a medium to tall tree with rough bark on the lower trunk, compact with narrow longitudinal fissures, dark grey, shedding above in long ribbons, often remaining in the crown, to leave a smooth, grey, cream or whitish surface.Adult leaves are...
). Other associated trees include grey box (E. moluccana
Eucalyptus moluccana
Eucalyptus moluccana, commonly known as the grey box or gum-topped box, is a medium sized to occasionally tall tree with rough, persistent bark on the lower trunk, shedding above to leave a smooth whitish or light grey, sometimes shiny surface; hence the original name Eucalyptus hemiphloia, from...
), forest red gum (E. tereticornis
Eucalyptus tereticornis
Eucalyptus tereticornis is a species of tree native to eastern Australia.It has a great many common names, of which Forest Red Gum is perhaps the most widely known...
), grey gum (E. punctata), cabbage gum (E. amplifolia
Eucalyptus amplifolia
Eucalyptus amplifolia, known as the Cabbage Gum is a common eucalyptus tree of the coastal areas and tablelands of New South Wales and adjacent areas in south eastern Queensland. Occurring as far south as Bega....
), narrow-leaved ironbark (E. crebra
Eucalyptus crebra
Eucalyptus crebra, commonly known as the Narrow-leaved ironbark or Narrowleaf red ironbark, is a type of Ironbark tree native to eastern Australia. A member of the large genus Eucalyptus, this tree is in the Myrtaceae family and can grow to a large spreading tree up to 35 m high...
) and broad-leaved apple (Angophora subvelutina
Angophora subvelutina
Angophora subvelutina, known as the Broad-leaved Apple, is a common woodland and forest tree of eastern Australia. Usually seen on river flats between 12 and 20 metres tall, though exceptional specimens exceed 35 metres tall. One of the habitats west of Sydney is on poorly drained alluvial flats...
), while associated understory
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
species include blackthorn (Bursaria spinosa
Bursaria spinosa
Bursaria spinosa is a small tree or shrub in the family Pittosporaceae. The species occurs in mainly in the eastern and southern half of Australia and not in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Reaching 10 m high, it bears fragrant white flowers at any time of year but particularly summer...
), bracken (Pteridium esculentum
Pteridium esculentum
Pteridium esculentum, commonly known as Austral bracken or simply bracken, is a species of the bracken genus native to a number of countries in the Southern Hemisphere....
) tantoon (Leptospermum polygalifolium
Leptospermum polygalifolium
Leptospermum polygalifolium, commonly known as tantoon, is a shrub species that is native to eastern Australia. It was first described by Salisbury in 1797. L. flavescens as described by Smith in 1797 is a junior synonym....
) and fern-leaved wattle (Acacia filicifolia
Acacia filicifolia
Acacia filicifolia, known colloquially as fern-leaved wattle, is a species of Acacia native to eastern Australia....
).
A fast growing and adaptable tree in cultivation, Eucalyptus benthamii is being investigated in South Africa and South America for pulpwood plantations.