A. Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom : Plantae (plants)
Division : Magnoliophyta (flowering plants, angiosperms)
Class : Magnoliopsida (dicots, dicotyledons)
Subclass : Rosidae
Order : Myrtales
Family : Myrtaceae (myrtles)
Genus : Eucalyptus (gum)
Species : E. camaldulensis (river redgum)
This tree grows up to about 30 meters (Bren and Gibbs, 1986) but it can attain 45 meters in height (Boland, 1984; Brooker et al., 2002). It have a thick bark (30 mm) which is spongy and dappled with red, grey, green and white colours. It exhibits considerable morphological variation throughout its range.
C. Habitat
As its name suggests, the River Red Gum grows alongside rivers-either permanent or seasonal waters (Brooker et al., 2002).
It is most commonly found on brown and red clays in the Murray region (Dalton, 1990), but it is also lines the channels of sandy watercourses and creeks (Boland, 1984).
Based on CSIRO informations
D. Ecological Importance
In the forests where it is present, River Red Gum is generally dominant (Costermans, 1989), especially on lower levels of the floodplain. On higher areas, it may occur in association with other Eucalyptus (Dalton, 1990).
The River Red Gum have a particular feature, their large branches, sometimes break and often fall. Red Gum trunks that fall into rivers are used as vital food and shelter by fishes like River Blackfish (Maccullochella peelii peelii). Of course, River Red Gum also provides valuable habitat for birds and other animals (predation protection, food research, nesting or breeding, etc).
Draw on Department of Primary Industry
II. Distribution
A. Australian distribution by subspecies
Based on EUCLID maps (subsp. simulata, var. obtusa and var. camaldulensis)
B. Murray Darling Basin distribution
Based on CSIRO map
References
Department of Primary Industry
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