Eucalyptus camaldulensis (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.
- Protologue: Cat. pl. horti camald. 2nd ed.: 6, 20 (1832).
Synonyms
Eucalyptus rostrata Schlechtendal (1847).
Vernacular names
- River red gum, red gum (En).
Distribution
Native to most parts of Australia. Cultivated throughout Malesia and in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world.
Uses
Because of its great strength and good durability the wood is suitable for many structural applications, even in situations of high hazard, e.g. for railway sleepers, poles, posts, flooring, wharfs, ship building and heavy construction. But above all it is used for firewood and pulp production. E. camaldulensis is sometimes planted as a reforestation tree. It produces a good-quality charcoal. The bole yields kino which can be used as a dye. The flowers produce a first grade honey.
Observations
A small to medium-sized, sometimes large tree of up to 20(-45) m tall, bole often rather crooked, bark smooth, white, grey, brown or red; juvenile leaves alternate, ovate to broadly lanceolate, petiolate, adult leaves alternate, lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, slightly discolorous, 8-30 cm × 0.7-2 cm, acuminate, green or grey-green, petiole 12-15 mm long; inflorescence axillary, solitary, 7-11-flowered; flower buds globular-rostrate or ovoid-conical, operculum hemispherical, rostrate or conical, 4-6 mm × 3-6 mm, obtuse; fruit hemispherical or ovoid, 5-8 mm × 5-8 mm with 3-5 exserted valves. E. camaldulensis is the most widespread eucalypt of Australia and occurs mainly along watercourses up to 600 m altitude. There is considerable morphological variation within the species, which is not surprising given its wide geographic distribution. The density of the wood is 900-980 kg/m3at 12% moisture content. See also the table on wood properties.
Selected sources
63a, 66, 130, 202, 232, 322a, 343, 362, 540.
