| Eucalyptus benthamii | |
|---|---|
| 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]
Eucalyptus benthamii grows as a tall tree to 35 or 40 metres (115 or 130 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]
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] 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]
A fast growing and adaptable tree in cultivation, Eucalyptus benthamii is being investigated in South Africa and South America for pulpwood plantations.[6]