The natural distribution of Eucalyptus species in Tasmania - Forestry ...

The natural distribution of Eucalyptus 

species in Tasmania 

K.J. Williams and B.M. Potts 

Cooperative Research Centre for Temperate Hardwood Forestry, 

Department of Plant Science, University of Tasmania, 

GPO Box 252–55, Hobart 7001 

email: Kristen.Williams@plant.utas.edu.au./B.M.Potts@plant.utas.edu.au 

Abstract 

A summary is provided of the natural geographic 

distributions of the 29 Tasmanian Eucalyptus 

species. The work is based on over 60 000 

observations from numerous data sources. A map 

on a 10 km x 10 km grid-cell scale is presented for 

each species and is accompanied by graphs of the 

altitudinal range and flowering times, as well as 

descriptive notes on distribution and ecology, 

supplemented with a list of key references. The 

geographic pattern of species richness is examined 

at generic, subgeneric and series levels. Total 

species richness is greater in the drier, eastern 

regions compared to the wet, western regions of 

Tasmania, with highest concentrations of species 

occurring mainly in the central east coast and 

south-eastern regions. Monocalyptus species 

occur in 8% more grid cells than Symphyomyrtus 

species but are absent from King Island. 

At the series level, greatest species richness is 

reached by the Obliquae in the north-east, the 

Piperitae in the south-east, the Ovatae on the 

central east coast, and the Viminales in highland 

areas of the south-east and Central Plateau. Series 

Obliquae species are absent from Flinders Island 

and are poorly represented in the south-west. 

The general patterns of eucalypt distribution and 

ecology are reviewed. Species are classified into nine 

categories based on the grid cells they occupy within 

their geographic range. The most widespread 

species are E. delegatensis, E. obliqua, E. ovata, 

E. viminalis and the endemic E. amygdalina. 

Most species with localised distributions have 

been nationally recognised as rare (i.e. E. barberi, 

E. morrisbyi, E. perriniana and E. risdonii). 

Rare species with regional distributions have either 

dispersed (E. cordata) or disjunct (E. archeri) 

occurrences. Most species that are rare in 

Tasmania are endemics, with the exception of 

E. perriniana and E. aff. radiata, although 

the taxonomic status of the latter requires 

investigation. Unresolved issues relating to the 

natural distribution and taxonomic affinities of 

the Tasmanian eucalypt species are summarised. 

Introduction 

In Tasmania and the Bass Strait islands, 

29 native eucalypt species (one of which has 

two subspecies) are recognised by Buchanan 

(1995), from two informal subgenera, 

Monocalyptus and Symphyomyrtus (Pryor and 

Johnson 1971). In the present study, we have 

treated all Tasmanian records of Eucalyptus 

globulus as E. globulus subsp. globulus. The 

other subspecies of E. globulus listed for 

Tasmania, subsp. pseudoglobulus, occurs only 

in forms which intergrade with E. globulus 

subsp. globulus (Jordan et al. 1993) and we do 

not include it here as a separate taxon. 

The Tasmanian native eucalypts include 

12 species from two series in the subgenus 

Monocalyptus and 17 species from two series 

in the subgenus Symphyomyrtus (Table 1) 1 . 

Seventeen taxa are known to be endemic 

to Tasmania (Brown et al. 1983), including 

E. delegatensis subsp. tasmaniensis (Boland 

1985). The Monocalyptus and Symphyomyrtus 

1 

An alphabetical list of the Tasmanian eucalypt 

species, including common names, is given in 

Table 2 (p. 47). 

Tasforests Vol. 8 39 

December 1996

Table 1. Taxonomic classification of the Tasmanian Eucalyptus species (after the informal classification of Pryor and 

Johnson 1971). Authorities for nomenclature follow Chippendale (1988). Subgroupings of the series Viminales 

generally follow Jackson (1965) and Duncan (1989) except E. cordata which has closest affinities with the alpine 

white gum subgroup (Pryor and Johnson 1971). Common names for series groups follow Duncan (1989; see also 

Jackson 1965). Eucalyptus globulus subsp. globulus includes forms which intergrade morphologically with the 

mainland taxon E. globulus subsp. pseudoglobulus (Jordan et al. 1993). (* = Tasmanian endemic) 

SUBGENUS Monocalyptus 

Series Obliquae (Ash Group) 

* E. delegatensis R.T. Baker subsp. tasmaniensis Boland 

E. obliqua L’Hér. 

E. pauciflora Sieber ex Sprengel subsp. pauciflora 

E. regnans F. Muell. 

E. sieberi L. Johnson 

Series Piperitae (Peppermint Group) 

* E. amygdalina Labill. 

* E. coccifera J.D. Hook. 

* E. nitida J.D. Hook. 

* E. pulchella Desf. 

E. aff. radiata Sieber ex DC. 

* E. risdonii J.D. Hook. 

* E. tenuiramis Miq. 

SUBGENUS Symphyomyrtus 

Series Ovatae (Black Gum Group) 

* E. barberi L. Johnson & Blaxell 

E. brookeriana A.M. Gray 

E. ovata Labill. 

* E. rodwayi R. Baker & H.G. Smith 

Series Viminales (White Gum Group) 

White gum subgroup 

E. dalrympleana Maiden subsp. dalrympleana 

E. rubida Deane & Maiden 

E. viminalis Labill. subsp. viminalis 

Yellow gum subgroup 

* E. johnstonii Maiden 

* E. subcrenulata Maiden & Blakely 

* E. vernicosa J.D. Hook. 

Blue gum subgroup 

E. globulus Labill. subsp. globulus 

Alpine white gum subgroup 

* E. archeri Maiden & Blakely 

* E. cordata Labill. 

* E. gunnii J.D. Hook. 

* E. morrisbyi Brett 

E. perriniana F. Muell. 

* E. urnigera J.D. Hook. 

subgenera are reproductively isolated (Ellis 

et al. 1991) but, within subgenera, extensive 

hybridisation and intergradation may occur 

(Griffin et al. 1988). Recognised cases of 

hybridisation and clinal variation amongst 

the Tasmanian eucalypts are summarised 

by Duncan (1989; Figure 1). A field key for 

the identification of Tasmanian eucalypts, 

which caters for the complex variation 

within and between species, is given by 

Duncan (1996). 

This atlas of the natural geographic and 

altitudinal distribution of the Tasmanian 

Eucalyptus species is a compendium of 

annotated maps on a 10 km x 10 km grid-cell 

scale, collated from diverse information 

sources. Mapping has been the first stage 

in screening for errors in a database that will 

ultimately be used for predictive analyses, 

contribute to land management decisions and 

assist ecological research. The main impetus 

for publishing these distributional data is to 


December 1996

Figure 1. Species of Eucalyptus native to Tasmania, showing species which form clines and natural hybrids. Hybrids 

only occur within subgenera. For each species, follow horizontal and vertical axes. For example, E. barberi is known 

to hybridise with E. brookeriana and E. ovata (horizontal axis) and possibly with E. globulus, E. gunnii and 

E. cordata (vertical axis). † E. delegatensis is represented in Tasmania by an endemic subspecies. (Figure adapted 

from Duncan 1989) 

quantify current knowledge, to stimulate the 

collection of herbarium voucher specimens 

from new localities, and to encourage the 

verification of outliers. It is important to 

clarify the natural distribution of Eucalyptus 

species in Tasmania as land clearing and 

plantings for ornamental and forestry 

purposes will eventually confuse natural and 

artificial occurrences. The maps and graphs 

presented should allow clear assessment of 

whether an occurrence is novel and represents 

an extension of the geographic or altitude 

range of a species, or whether it represents a 

poorly verified or well-known location. 

Previously published data on eucalypts 

Several previous studies have published 

maps of eucalypt distributions at the level 

of species or vegetation type. The maps of 

Jackson (1965) are still the main overall source 

of information on the distribution of eucalypt 

species in Tasmania (e.g. Davidson et al. 1981; 

Forest Resources 1995). Other publications 

such as Boland et al. (1984) and Chippendale 

(1988) include broad-scale maps of Tasmanian 

eucalypt species in the context of Australiawide 

eucalypt occurrences. Local texts such 

as Kirkpatrick and Backhouse (1985) and the 

atlas of Tasmanian endemics (Brown et al. 

1983) include eucalypts in the context of other 

Tasmanian plant species. Mapping at higher 

resolutions, such as the 1:500 000 distribution 

maps of vegetation types (Kirkpatrick and 

Dickinson 1984), tall eucalypt forest types 

(Forestry Commission 1988), and the specific 

studies of wet and dry eucalypt forests by 

Wells (1989) and Williams (1989) display the 

predominance of eucalypts in the landscape 

(cf. Pryor and Johnson 1981). Regional and 


December 1996

local vegetation mapping has also contributed 

significantly to our knowledge of eucalypt 

occurrences. For example, Brown and Bayly- 

Stark (1979a) mapped the vegetation of Maria 

Island, Duncan (1983) mapped communities 

in the Douglas River region, Brown and 

Duncan (1989) mapped the vegetation of 

Tasman Peninsula, Fensham (1989) 

reconstructed the vegetation patterns for 

the Midlands from extant and remnant 

community distributions, and Kirkpatrick and 

Balmer (1991) mapped the northern portion of 

the Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National 

Park (see also Corbett and Mackie 1994). 

Geo-coded flora inventory surveys with 

well-designed sampling strategies provide 

a lasting contribution to our knowledge of 

the distribution patterns of eucalypts. Such 

inventories include, for example, the broadscale 

vegetation surveys of heathlands 

(Kirkpatrick 1977), dry sclerophyll forests 

(Duncan and Brown 1985), grassy woodlands 

(Kirkpatrick and Duncan 1987; Kirkpatrick 

et al. 1988a), wet eucalypt forests (Neyland 

1986; Kirkpatrick et al. 1988b), swamp forests 

(Pannell 1992), rainforest (Jarman et al. 1984, 

1991), riparian vegetation (Askey-Doran 

1993), buttongrass moorlands (Jarman et al. 

1988), and alpine vegetation (e.g. Kirkpatrick 

1980, 1984a, b; Kirkpatrick and Harwood 

1980; Kirkpatrick and Whinam 1988). Other 

purpose-specific flora inventory surveys 

encompass many local areas in particular 

regions throughout Tasmania; for example, 

the non-allocated Crown land surveys (e.g. 

Duncan 1986; Neyland 1988a, b; Neyland and 

Duncan 1988a, b; Slater 1988; Cullen 1990; 

Mendel 1991), the land system surveys (Richley 

1978, 1984; Pinkard 1980; Pinkard and Richley 

1984; Pemberton 1986, 1991; Davies 1988), and 

the numerous unpublished environmental 

impact and investigation surveys of Crown and 

private land areas by management agencies 

such as Forestry Tasmania, the Department 

of Environment and Land Management, 

the Department of Primary Industry and 

Fisheries, Works Tasmania, and local councils. 

For reasons of inherent interest, or for 

management-orientated research and academic 

study, many individuals have also under- 

Photo 1. The first distribution maps of Tasmanian eucalypts were published by Prof. W.D. Jackson (right) 

in 1965. He is shown with Prof. L.D. Pryor examining a specimen of E. globulus. 


December 1996

taken flora surveys of local land areas such 

as the Rheban Spit (Bowden and Kirkpatrick 

1974), Cape Raoul (Kirkpatrick 1975c), Mount 

Wellington Range (Ratkowsky and Ratkowsky 

1976, 1977, 1982), East Risdon Nature Reserve 

(Brown and Bayly-Stark 1979b), Hellfire 

Bluff (Harris and Brown 1980), Rocka Rivulet 

(Duncan et al. 1981), Cherry Tree Hill (Duncan 

and Duncan 1984), Ben Lomond National Park 

(Davies and Davies 1989), Table Cape (Willis 

1991) and Hummocky Hills (Ratkowsky et al. 

1993c). Details of the distribution of some 

species have become known following studies 

of the genetic structure of populations such as 

E. barberi (McEntee et al. 1994), E. cordata (Potts 

1989), E. globulus (Kirkpatrick 1974, 1975b; 

Jordan et al. 1993, 1994), E. gunnii and 

E. archeri (Potts 1985; Potts and Reid 1985a, b), 

E. morrisbyi (Wiltshire et al. 1991b), E. perriniana 

(Wiltshire and Reid 1987), E. risdonii and 

E. tenuiramis (Wiltshire et al. 1991a, 1992) and 

E. vernicosa, E. subcrenulata and E. johnstonii 

(Jackson 1960). Information on distributions 

has also been derived from ecological studies 

such as those on interactive effects of drought, 

frost and waterlogging (e.g. Davidson and Reid 

1985, 1987, 1989), insolation (e.g. Kirkpatrick 

and Nunez 1980), fire regime (e.g. Neyland 

and Askey-Doran 1994), and the nature of an 

inverted tree-line (e.g. Gilfedder 1988). 

Collectively, these diverse studies have 

assisted in formulating the conservation 

status of individual species (e.g. Brown et al. 

1983; Briggs and Leigh 1988; Kirkpatrick et al. 

1991a, b) and communities (e.g. Kirkpatrick 

et al. 1994), enabling priorities to be identified 

for management and research (e.g. Wiltshire 

et al. 1989). Collation of the distribution 

information from these and other studies 

is summarised here for eucalypts. 

Methods 

Species nomenclature 

Subspecies have been abbreviated to their 

species name wherever appropriate, providing 

this leads to no ambiguity in a Tasmanian 

context, and no loss of clarity in the discussion. 

Data collation 

A generalised 10 km x 10 km map scale, 

corresponding to the Australian Map Grid 

(AMG) system, has been widely used in 

Tasmania for presenting the distributions of 

native plant and animal communities or taxa 

(e.g. Thomas 1979; Brook 1979; Brown et al. 

1983; Kirkpatrick et al. 1988a, b). The eucalypt 

distribution maps are based on over 60 000 

records collated from the published literature 

(7%), unpublished reports (7%) and existing 

databases (86%), where these could at least 

be located within a 10 km x 10 km grid cell. 

Literature from which records were derived 

is indicated in the Bibliography (see p. 150). 

The existing databases were contributed by 

Forestry Tasmania (CFI, Lawrence 1978; 

floristic data, Orr and Manson 1994), the 

Tasmanian Department of Environment and 

Land Management (TASPAWS/TASFORHAB 

databases, Peters 1983), and CSIRO Division 

of Plant Industry (EUCALIST, Chippendale 

and Wolf 1984). Extensive distribution 

data held in collections at the Tasmanian 

Herbarium were accessed via EUCALIST 

prior to 1984, or directly from the Herbarium 

for later collecting dates. The unpublished 

reports of Forestry Tasmania were derived 

largely from the botanical surveys of Forest 

Reserves, Recommended Areas for Protection 

(RAPs) and forest coupes prior to logging. 

The unpublished reports of the Department 

of Environment and Land Management 

comprised investigation surveys and specific 

research projects. Other unpublished records 

were generously provided by individuals 

of these Government agencies and the 

University of Tasmania, or unaffiliated 

field botanists. The published literature 

was generally derived from Tasmanian and 

Australian journals on botany, forestry and 

ecology, and locally produced reports. 

Data verification 

A conservative approach to data verification 

was undertaken to encourage the future 

accurate location of suspect records. Draft 

maps of the distribution of each species were 

reviewed for obvious errors, outliers and 


December 1996

single records in a grid cell on the margins of 

a distribution. Such occurrences that were 

considered possible, albeit unlikely, were 

usually deleted from the distribution maps 

and discussed in the text for each species as 

unverified outliers. Particular attention was 

also paid to inconsistencies with the original 

maps of Jackson (1965) and locations in 

Brown et al. (1983) which were unverified. 

Collated occurrences which were clearly in 

error were omitted from the maps. These 

errors included clear misidentifications for 

historic or accidental reasons and mis-read 

or mis-typed grid references. In some cases, 

errors arose in conversion of locations from 

minutes of latitude and longitude to AMG. 

The conversion frequently placed the record in 

an adjacent and incorrect 10 km x 10 km grid 

cell. For example, records of E. coccifera with 

a location given as 'Herringback' appeared in 

grid cell 5023 following conversion of latitude 

and longitude to AMG, but the location 

actually refers to cell 5123. In other cases, 

earlier collectors, in the absence of accurate 

maps, gave descriptions with reference to the 

nearest landmarks and named places which, 

when converted to latitude and longitude, 

lead to some spurious locations due to the 

existence of several places by the same name 

or the same place by different names. For 

example, Mount Wellington in southern 

Tasmania was referred to previously as 

Plateau Mountain or Table Mountain, and 

when Robert Brown collected E. globulus in 

1804 from the 'Derwent River Table' or 'Table 

Mountain', it was incorrectly attributed to 

Table Mountain in the Midlands. Other causes 

of error are outdated nomenclature in some 

species or the difficulties of distinguishing 

morphologically similar species and their 

intergrading forms. For example, the fineleaved 

peppermints E. amygdalina and 

E. nitida may appear superficially similar when 

adult leaves, fruits and buds are compared, 

but are more readily distinguished on bark 

and habitat. In the case of their intergrading 

forms, the naming preferences of different 

recorders are expressed. Overlapping 

nomenclature is particularly apparent for 

data collated from numerous sources. 

Some other inadvertent errors have arisen 

in the database following the collation of 

published distributions where these are based 

upon floristic classifications and summarised 

data (e.g. Kirkpatrick et al. 1988a, b; Askey- 

Doran 1993). In such cases, the community 

nomenclature which is frequently derived 

from the dominant tree species and 

vegetation type does not necessarily reflect 

a verifiable presence for that species. 

Errors of these types in the distribution data 

accounted for approximately 5% of the initial 

63 567 records, leaving 60 412 records 

available for mapping 2 . 

Sampling bias due to duplicated and 

replicated data may have masked some records 

that would otherwise have been reviewed 

for potential error. For example, duplication 

in the data arises where field records of 

some collectors have been used in several 

publications, collated in several databases, 

and voucher specimens simultaneously 

lodged with different herbaria, giving a 

perception of several separate sources. 

Intensive sampling in some locations relative 

to others (replication) may also contribute to 

enhanced perceptions of record validity. The 

degree of multiple occurrences of data or 

sources in each 10 km x 10 km grid cell results 

in considerable redundancy at this scale. The 

raw data have a redundancy of approximately 

75% and the sources themselves have a 

redundancy of approximately 40%. To overcome 

some of these problems of sampling 

bias, an indication is provided for each grid 

cell of the the number of separate sources 

recording the presence of a species. It was felt 

that displaying separate sources, rather than 

the number of records per cell gave a better 

indication of independent identifications and 

thus the reliability of the presence of a species. 

In the context of the number of sources per 

grid cell per species, the overall rate of 

2 

In the ORACLE database 'EUCDATA' at the 

University of Tasmania, all data up to 'INDEX – 

NUM = 63 672' have been used in this atlas of 

distributions. 


December 1996

obvious error and unverified observations 

accounts for approximately 14% of the initial 

16 523 observations from the condensed 

set of data, leaving 14 185 independent 

identifications available for mapping. The 

verified data are derived from 441 different 

sources and the unverified data derive from 

89 sources. Together, the data comprise 455 

distinct sources. 

Altitude occurrences and flowering time 

Altitude occurrences in 100 m classes and 

monthly flowering incidence for each species 

accompany the distribution maps. The 

altitude data were collated with distribution 

records. Obvious errors in the altitude records 

were screened by considering outliers in the 

context of the predominant habitat for each 

species and the upper and lower limits of the 

particular response curve. Sampling bias 

among the altitude records for each species 

was reduced by combining, into a single 

observation, replicates from the same grid cell 

which differed by less than 10 m. This left 

20 169 records for defining the response curves. 

The flowering-time records were separately 

collated from EUCALIST (Chippendale and 

Wolf 1984), with additional records from the 

Tasmanian Herbarium (up to 1992), field notes 

(BMP) and published data (E. gunnii Potts 

and Reid 1985a, b; E. urnigera Savva et al. 

1988; E. cordata Potts 1989). Flowering times 

are given for a 15-month period starting from 

May (autumn) to produce an optimal display 

of the response curves for most species. In 

several cases, the flowering information will 

be biased by extensive records from specific 

studies, involving specific years or specific 

localities or, conversely, by inadequate data. 

Response curves for flowering times are 

defined by a moving average (summed 

weights of 0.5 to the observation and 0.25 to 

each adjacent record), where each observation 

represents the middle of the respective 

month. Absence data were not available for 

either flowering times or altitude responses. 

Thus, the documented responses (see relevant 

Figures on pp. 49–121) are conditional 

probabilities which reflect the distribution 

of occurrences in the specified classes. 

Distribution types and conservation status 

The collated data were used to explore 

some attributes of species' distributions (see 

Rabinowitz 1981). The geographic range of 

each species within Tasmania was estimated 

by connecting occupied grid cells from the 

outer marginal extremes of a core distribution, 

or from the coast, to outliers by straight lines 

and interpolating the number of cells within 

the resulting envelope (e.g. see 'extent' in 

Gaston 1996). The aggregation of species 

occurrences within their range was estimated 

as a percentage of the occupied grid cells and 

the geographic range. The continuous 

variation in the distribution of the Tasmanian 

eucalypts is categorised into nine types based 

on the geographic range and aggregation of 

occurrences for each species. 

Distribution maps, habitat descriptions and 

community classifications 

Distribution, altitude profiles and flowering 

times for the 29 eucalypt species, in 

alphabetical order, are given in the following 

atlas of maps and figures. The presence of 

a species in a grid cell is represented by a 

dot, the size of which reflects the number of 

separate sources recording a presence (Legend, 

p. 47). The annotated text summarises 

distribution, taxonomic affinities and ecology 

for each species. Specific occurrences and 

outliers of particular note are discussed, often 

in the context of clinal intergradation and 

hybridisation. Taxonomic notes were derived 

from Boland et al. (1984), Chippendale (1988) 

and Curtis and Morris (1975), as well as from 

specific studies referenced in each case. 

Similarly, broad habitat and community 

descriptions were integrated with assistance 

from the floristic classifications of dry 

sclerophyll forest (Duncan and Brown 1985), 

grassy woodlands (Kirkpatrick et al. 1988a), 

and wet eucalypt forest (Kirkpatrick et al. 

1988b), and the habitat descriptions given 

in Davidson et al. (1981). To avoid excessive 

repetition, these sources are generally not 


December 1996

cited in the annotated text for each species. 

Other specific sources used are indicated in 

the text for each species. Key references on 

the biology of a particular species are listed 

in alphabetical order. Locations mentioned 

when commenting on the distribution of a 

species are referenced to 10 km x 10 km 

grid cells which are directly related to the 

Tasmanian TASMAP series (Department of 

Environment and Land Management). 

Photo 2. Very tall specimens of E. viminalis, exceeding 85 m in height and known as the 'White Knights', 

occur in wet forest at Evercreech in the Fingal Valley. 


December 1996

Atlas of distributions of Tasmanian eucalypts 

Legend to distribution maps: Dot size reflects the number of separate sources recording 

presence in a grid cell (see p. 45). = 1, 2 = 3–5 = > 5 

Table 2. Index to species in the atlas of Tasmanian eucalypts. Common names for species mostly follow, or are based 

on,Curtis and Morris (1975).Those ofE. archeri and E. brookeriana are taken from Boland et al. (1984), and 

E. aff. radiata has unclarified taxonomic affinities in Tasmania. In a few cases, common names have been changed to 

more accurately reflect relationships between species at the level of the ash, peppermint or gum groups. Where this has 

occurred, old common names are shown in brackets. 

Species Common name in Tasmania page 

E. amygdalina black peppermint 48 

E. archeri Archer's gum, alpine cider gum 51 

E. barberi Barber's gum 53 

E. brookeriana Brooker's gum 55 

E. coccifera snow peppermint (snow gum) 58 

E. cordata heart-leaved silver gum 61 

E. dalrympleana subsp. dalrympleana mountain white gum 64 

E. delegatensis subsp. tasmaniensis gum-topped stringy bark, white-top 66 

E. globulus subsp. globulus blue gum 69 

E. gunnii cider gum 72 

E. johnstonii yellow gum 75 

E. morrisbyi Morrisby's gum 77 

E. nitida Smithton peppermint 79 

E. obliqua stringy bark, brown-top 82 

E. ovata swamp gum, black gum 85 

E. pauciflora subsp. pauciflora cabbage ash, weeping ash (cabbage gum, weeping gum) 88 

E. perriniana spinning gum 91 

E. pulchella white peppermint 93 

E. aff. radiata 96 

E. regnans giant ash (swamp gum) 99 

E. risdonii Risdon peppermint 102 

E. rodwayi black swamp gum (swamp peppermint) 104 

E. rubida candlebark 106 

E. sieberi ironbark 108 

E. subcrenulata alpine yellow gum 110 

E. tenuiramis silver peppermint 112 

E. urnigera urn gum 115 

E. vernicosa varnished gum 118 

E. viminalis subsp. viminalis white gum, manna gum 120 

New records 

The authors welcome new locations for Tasmanian eucalypts, and information on the unverified or 

doubtful records discussed in this atlas. All records should be in writing, stating location of the plant, 

date of observation/collection, and name of the collector and/or person providing the information. It is 

important that range extensions (geographic or altitudinal) are supported by the collection of herbarium 

material (providing it causes minimal damage to the plant), since voucher specimens provide the best level 

of verification of a species (see Duncan 1996, this volume). 


December 1996

Eucalyptus amygdalina 

SUBGENUS: Monocalyptus 

SERIES: Piperitae 

Common name: 

black peppermint 

Figure 2. Distribution of 

E. amygdalina in Tasmania. 

Eucalyptus amygdalina is a widespread and 

common endemic species of eastern coastal 

regions and inland tiers and plateaux 

(Figure 2). It occurs on undulating or steep 

terrain across a wide range of substrates that 

are generally infertile, comparatively sunny 

and periodically drought prone. It is 

generally absent from the wetter regions of 

western Tasmania, and the upland regions 

of the Central Plateau and north-east. It 

intergrades with E. nitida in the north-western 

coastal region and towards the south-west 

along the western margins of its distribution, 

and with E. pulchella towards the east coast 

and throughout the Eastern Tiers on dolerite 

substrates. 

Eucalyptus amygdalina is predominantly a 

lowland species, generally occurring from 

near sea-level to 600 m but occasionally up 

to 800 m, with rare, scattered occurrences 

up to 1020 m (Figure 3). The higher altitude 

occurrences are known from the Eastern 

Tiers near Snow Hill and Mount Foster, and 

from the south-eastern Central Plateau and 

Western Tiers. Its main flowering period is 


December 1996

August to January, peaking around October 

to November (Figure 4). 

Eucalyptus amygdalina (Figure 5) is a typical 

dominant of dry sclerophyll forests and 

woodlands, usually occurring in mixed stands 

with other eucalypt species. Sharp ecotonal 

transitions between the three lowland 

peppermints E. pulchella, E. amygdalina and 

E. tenuiramis are most notable in southeastern 

Tasmania in association with the 

geological contact zones between dolerite, 

sandstone and mudstone respectively. 

Elsewhere, E. amygdalina occupies a range 

of sites, and the tree form and understorey 

type reflect an interaction between substrate, 

climate and fire frequency. For example, on 

predominantly siliceous substrates deposited 

after erosive processes, the understorey is 

Figure 3. Altitude distribution of E. amygdalina. 

n = 216 

Figure 4. Flowering times for E. amygalina. 

n = 2600 

heathy where drainage is rapid (e.g. deep 

sands and granitic slopes), grassy on alluvial 

flats with medium drainage and a relatively 

high fire frequency, and sedgey on the 

margins of hollows with seasonally poor 

drainage. Alternatively, on dolerite and granite 

substrate-types, heathy understoreys develop 

in well-drained, undulating terrain, grassy 

woodlands develop on the stoney flats of 

inland tiers and plateaux with slightly impeded 

drainage, and shrubby communities develop 

on the more insolated rocky slopes and ridges. 

Wet sclerophyll understoreys occur locally in 

northern inland regions, and on the protected 

slopes and aspects of mountainous and hilly 

terrain elsewhere. Eucalyptus obliqua frequently 

co-exists with E. amygdalina in these ecotonal 

situations of increased moisture availability 

and substrate fertility. Eucalyptus viminalis is a 

common subdominant or minor species which 

may be replaced by E. dalrympleana in upland 

situations. Other species which may occur with 

E. amygdalina include E. globulus in shaded 

gullies, or E. ovata on poorly drained sites. 

COMMENTS: There are several unverified 

outliers on the west coast from north of West 

Point to Macquarie Harbour (cells 2946, 3044, 

3046, 3141, 3532, 3533, 3633, 3830), and south 

to Cox Bight (cells 4020, 4120, 4318). Other 

unverified outliers or unverified marginal 

occurrences are recorded from western and 

north-western inland regions (cells 3544, 3545, 

3637, 3931) or adjacent to the Lyell Highway 

and the Gordon–Serpentine impoundments 

(cells 4033, 4134, 4233, 4234, 4235, 4324, 4327, 

4328, 4426, 4429, 4527). Some of these may 

be actual occurrences of E. amygdalina, but 

others may represent forms intergrading with 

E. nitida or misidentifications of E. nitida. A 

similar westward extension of E. amygdalina 

between Savage River and Guildford in the 

north-west (cells 3540, 3640, 3641, 3740, 3741, 

3840, 3841) and near Tullah (cell 3838) 

appears well verified and has been mapped. 

Eucalyptus amygdalina may also intergrade 

with E. nitida in the far south-east, such as in 

the vicinity of Exit Cave (cell 4819). 

On dolerite in the Eastern Tiers, the 

distinction between E. amygdalina and 


December 1996

E. pulchella is unclear and field identification 

as either species has generally followed the 

preference of the surveyor. The genetic 

affinities of the south-eastern and Midland 

forms of these 'half-barked' E. amygdalina 

were investigated by Kirkpatrick and Potts 

(1987) and found to be most comparable with 

E. amygdalina. Occurrences of E. amygdalina in 

the eastern regions were therefore unqueried, 

although it is likely that the same ecotype 

may be identified by separate sources as 

either E. pulchella or E. amygdalina. Eucalyptus 

amygdalina has not been verified from 

Flinders Island, and all such putative 

occurrences were treated as misidentifications 

of E. nitida (i.e. cells 5658, 5758, 5856, 5857, 

5953, 5954, 5956, 6052, 6054, 6057). 

KEY REFERENCES: Duncan and Brown 

(1985); Kirkpatrick and Nunez (1980); 

Kirkpatrick and Potts (1987); Ladiges et al. 

(1983); Potts (1986, 1990a); Potts and Reid 

(1985c, 1988); Shaw et al. (1984); Whitham 

et al. (1994). 

Figure 5. Eucalyptus amygdalina. 


December 1996

Eucalyptus archeri 

SUBGENUS: Symphyomyrtus 

SERIES: Viminales 

Common name: 

Archer's gum 

alpine cider gum 


E. archeri in Tasmania. 

Eucalyptus archeri is a localised endemic 

species associated with cold, relatively 

poorly drained, shallow, peaty soils of rocky 

outcrops at, or immediately below, tier and 

plateau escarpments along the northern edge 

of the Central Plateau and mountains of the 

north-east (Figure 6). It has been treated as 

a subspecies of E. gunnii by some authors 

(Pryor and Johnson 1971; Potts and Reid 1985 

a, b) but is treated as a separate species by 

Curtis and Morris (1975) and Chippendale 

(1988). It intergrades clinally with E. gunnii 

following a gradient of decreasing rainfall 

and increasing frost severity on the Central 

Plateau but, in the north-east, the habitats 

of these two species are geographically 

separated (Potts 1985; Potts and Reid 1985a, b). 

Eucalyptus archeri occurs at altitudes above 

980 m but is predominant between 1100 m to 

1200 m throughout its range (Figure 7), and 

extends to 1350 m in the north-east on Ben 

Lomond. The lowest altitude site occurs 

on Mount Foster on Fingal Tier. The main 

flowering period is January to April, peaking 

in February and March (Figure 8). 


December 1996

Eucalyptus archeri occurs locally in alpine 

scrub and subalpine open woodland as a 

mallee-form shrub or straggly small tree, 

or with other subalpine eucalypts such as 

E. dalrympleana in the north-east, or 

E. coccifera on the Central Plateau. On 

the Central Plateau, E. archeri intergrades 

continuously with E. gunnii following the 

transition in habitat from the subalpine 

mixed eucalypt/rainforest and closed scrub 

on the northern scarp of the Western Tiers to 

the open woodland bordering the extensive 

frost hollows around Great Lake (Potts 1985). 

Eucalyptus archeri is largely found on the talus 

slopes at or above the altitudinal limit of the 

subalpine E. delegatensis/E. dalrympleana 

forests. It is confined to high-rainfall areas 

and may extend into closed, subalpine mixed 

forest with temperate rainforest species (Potts 

and Reid 1985a). In contrast to E. gunnii, 

which frequently occurs on the inverted treeline 

surrounding frost hollows, E. archeri 

occurs at the tree-line on the north-eastern 

mountains (where E. coccifera is absent) and 

near the tree-line on the Western Tiers (Potts 

and Reid 1985a). Eucalyptus gunnii and 

E. archeri are two subalpine species which 

transcend habitat disjunctions between 

highland areas in the centre, north-east, east 

and south-east that are isolated by major 

fault grabens. 

Figure 7. Altitude distribution of E. archeri. 

Figure 8. Flowering times for E. archeri. 

n = 162 

n = 34 

COMMENTS: Eucalyptus archeri is more 

restricted in its distribution than E. gunnii, 

and outlier occurrences are generally 

attributed to misidentifications of E. gunnii 

or intermediates that are treated here as 

E. gunnii (e.g. cells 4136, 4138, 4139, 4240, 

4334, 4736, 4935, 5033, 5035). In the northeastern 

highlands, E. archeri occurs on Ben 

Lomond (cells 5539, 5540), Ben Nevis (cell 

5541), Mount Barrow (cell 5341), Mount 

Maurice (cell 5442) and Mount Saddleback 

(5640). Across the Fingal Valley at Mount 

Foster (cell 5737), E. archeri is recorded as 

a small mallee tree amongst the shrubby, 

subalpine understorey of E. delegatensis 

forest on the plateau escarpments (F. Duncan, 

pers. comm. 1989). This latter location 

requires further verification as it represents 

a major range extension across the Fingal – 

South Esk Valley system, with biogeographic 

implications. An outlier for 

E. archeri on Millers Bluff (cell 5135) has 

been included in the distribution map 

because it is within the expected geographic 

and habitat range. 

KEY REFERENCES: Barber (1955); Jackson 

(1973); Potts (1985); Potts and Jackson (1986); 

Potts and Reid (1985a, b); Pryor and Briggs 

(1981). 


December 1996

Eucalyptus barberi 


SERIES: Ovatae 

Common name: 

Barber's gum 


E. barberi in Tasmania. 

Eucalyptus barberi (Photo 3) is a rare endemic 

species which occurs locally as small, disjunct 

populations on highly insolated, dry, rocky, 

dolerite ridges and drought-prone, northwest 

facing slopes of the Eastern Tiers and 

associated seaward foothills (Figure 9). There 

is a minor geographic discontinuity in the 

range of this species in the vicinity of the 

Prosser River valley. The morphological 

distinction between northern and southern 

populations of E. barberi does not correspond 

with this geographic disjunction. Rather, the 

high level of genetic variability is typical of a 

species distributed as a series of small 

isolated populations (McEntee et al. 1994). 

Eucalyptus barberi is predominant in the 

altitude range from 200 m to 400 m, with a 

few occurrences down to 130 m or up to 

500 m (Figure 10). The lowest known 

altitude occurrence is from Cherry Tree Hill, 

north-east of Cranbrook, and the highest is 

from near Organ Hill, south of the Douglas 

River. The main flowering period appears to 

be from March to August, broadly peaking 

between April and July (Figure 11). 


December 1996

Although E. barberi occurs as a mallee shrub 

or small tree in patches forming pure stands, 

it occurs more frequently as an understorey 

shrub in E. pulchella low, open woodlands. On 

these sites, E. globulus may also be present as a 

minor species, or E. ovata as drainage becomes 

slightly impeded. Eucalyptus barberi appears to 

be a relict species that may have been displaced 

from intervening wetter sites by competition 

from faster growing species (McEntee et al. 

1994). The northern populations of E. barberi 

tend to be relatively large, but southern ones 

are particularly small and disjunct, and 

exhibit the greatest range in phenotypic 

variation. Many of these latter populations 

are of scientific interest (McEntee et al. 1994). 

COMMENTS: The disjunction in the 

geographic distribution of E. barberi may be 

Figure 10. Altitude distribution of E. barberi. 

n = 79 

an artefact of the paucity of sampling due 

to small population sizes and relative 

inaccessibility (McEntee et al. 1994) rather than 

the absence of a suitable habitat. Several 

altitudinal outliers on the western margins of 

the main population need field verification. 

For example, occurrences at altitudes above 

600 m are recorded from the upper catchments 

of the Brushy River (cell 5735) and the Douglas 

and Apsley Rivers (cell 5737). A low-altitude 

outlier (c. 100 m) to the north-west of the 

Grange Hills near Cranbrook (cell 5934) is also 

unverified. Other doubtful records include 

grid cells 5630, 5633 and 5634. Putative 

occurrences south of Bicheno (cell 6035) were 

not verified. However, a record for E. barberi 

from the vicinity of Donkeys Track Point near 

Three Thumbs (cell 5628) extends the southern 

population range (A. Gray, pers. comm. 1995). 

Other recent records in the Wielangta forests 

(cell 5727) have also extended the known range 

of the disjunct E. barberi populations in this 

region (F. Duncan and F. Coates, pers. comm. 

1992). The populations on Meredith Tier 

(cell 5732) represent a hybrid swarm but are 

considered to be genetically closer to E. barberi 

than to any other single species (McEntee et 

al. 1994). Additional field verification of the 

northern and western range limits of E. barberi 

is needed to clarify its distribution and habitat. 

KEY REFERENCES: Barber (1954); Gray 

(1974); Johnson and Blaxell (1972); Ladiges 

et al. (1981, 1984); McEntee et al. (1994); Pryor 

and Briggs (1981). 

n = 40 

Figure 11. Flowering times for E. barberi. 

Photo 3. Buds of E. barberi (pressed material). 


December 1996

Eucalyptus brookeriana 


SERIES: Ovatae 

Common name: 

Brooker's gum 


E. brookeriana in Tasmania. 

Inset map: Distribution 

on mainland Australia. 

Eucalyptus brookeriana has a broad geographic 

range and occurs locally in the warm, wet 

regions of the north-west, King Island and the 

east coast (Figure 12). It is usually located on 

well-drained, rocky soils of dolerite slopes 

and ridges, on alluvial deposits adjacent to 

streams, or on the margins of blackwoodswamp 

forest. Small, scattered, isolated 

populations exist between the two large, 

disjunct centres in eastern and western 

Tasmania. Many additional occurrences in 

pockets of suitable habitat between these 

population centres may be discovered. 

Eucalyptus brookeriana (Photos 4, 5) is the most 

recently described Tasmanian species (Gray 

1979), and previous occurrences were classified 

as E. ovata. Jackson (1965) distinguished a 

western variant of E. ovata which may include 

forms currently classified as E. brookeriana. 

However, forms with affinities to E. ovata are 

also likely to occur in these western regions 

and E. brookeriana appears to intergrade with 

E. ovata across its range, further confusing 

the distinction between these two species. 

The two taxa are not well differentiated on 

reproductive traits, but the adult and juvenile 


December 1996

leaves of E. brookeriana have a higher density 

of oil glands and the juvenile foliage has 

crenulate margins (Brooker and Lassak 1981). 

In wet forest habitats, particularly in the west, 

field distinction of either species may also be 

difficult due to the similarity of the mature 

tree habit and the frequent absence of 

juvenile material in the understorey. 

The morphological and ecological distinction 

between E. brookeriana and E. ovata is clearest 

in eastern regions, but remains unresolved 

in the northern, western and King Island 

regions. In the east, E. brookeriana is readily 

distinguished in habitat from E. ovata as a tall 

tree amongst wet forest on protected, welldrained, 

rocky slopes and ridges at middle 

altitudes, whilst E. ovata is a low woodland 

tree associated with poorly drained flats and 

n = 125 

hollows. However, E. aff. ovata may occupy 

habitats more similar to E. brookeriana in the 

northern and western regions (e.g. Western 

Tiers; F. Duncan, pers. comm. 1995). 

The eastern and western populations of 

E. brookeriana appear to have distinct altitudinal 

ranges. The western and north-western 

populations are generally found below 100 m 

altitude, and occasionally up to 200 m. The 

eastern populations, however, range from 

approximately 200 m to 700 m, with rare 

occurrences down to 100 m (Figure 13). The 

highest altitude record (720 m) is from the 

vicinity of Mount Punter in the Eastern Tiers, 

and the lowest (10 m) is from flats adjacent 

to Hibbs Lagoon in the south-west. The 

flowering time of E. brookeriana is poorly 

known, but current data are bimodal, with the 

main flowering periods being September to 

December (peaking in Spring) and March to 

May (Figure 14). The bimodality of flowering 

time may be related to the different climatic 

regimes experienced by the disjunct eastern 

Figure 13. Altitude distribution of E. brookeriana. 

n = 23 

Figure 14. Flowering times for E. brookeriana. 

Photo 4. Typical juvenile leaves (pressed) of 

E. brookeriana showing the crenulate leaf margins. 


December 1996

and western populations, but may also be 

due to misidentification of E. ovata given the 

correspondence between their respective peaks 

in spring flowering time (cf. Figures 14, 49). 

COMMENTS: The disjunct distribution of 

E. brookeriana requires clearer ecological and 

taxonomic definition, considered in context 

with the distribution of E. ovata, particularly 

in western regions. In ambiguous cases, 

botanists in the field have probably classified 

populations conservatively as the more widespread 

E. ovata. This predilection is reflected 

in the small number of verified, outlier 

occurrences of E. brookeriana between the 

eastern and western population centres. For 

example, E. brookeriana has been verified south 

of Deloraine at Golden Valley (cells 4739, 4740; 

M.I.H. Brooker, pers. comm. 1996), and other 

locations within this region require verification 

(cells 4638, 5035). Recent records from southwestern 

coastal regions (e.g. cell 5628) also 

suggest a more extensive distribution than 

is shown here. In the south-east, unverified 

outliers for E. brookeriana are recorded from 

the vicinity of Woodbridge Hill (cell 5122), 

Snug Tiers (cell 5123) and Forestier Peninsula 

(cell 5724). In the north-east, voucher records 

in the vicinity of Mount Barrow (cell 5342) 

add credence to the unverified outlier east of 

Goulds Country (cell 5943). 

KEY REFERENCES: Brooker and Lassak 

(1981); Gray (1979); Ladiges et al. (1981, 1984). 

Photo 5. A young tree of E. brookeriana, raised from seed taken from the 

holotype and now growing in the grounds of the University of Tasmania. 


December 1996

Eucalyptus coccifera 



Common name: 

snow peppermint 


E. coccifera in Tasmania. 

Eucalyptus coccifera is an endemic subalpine 

species occurring with a disjunct distribution 

at the tree-line on most exposed, rocky, 

dolerite-capped mountains of the south-east 

and Central Plateau (Figure 15). It is absent 

from the north-eastern dolerite mountains 

where it is replaced by E. archeri as the treeline 

eucalypt. Localised stands of E. coccifera 

occur throughout the eastern highlands and 

isolated mountains of the south-east. 

Towards the western quartzite mountains, 

E. coccifera intergrades with, and is eventually 

replaced by, E. nitida as the tree-line eucalypt. 

Shaw et al. (1984) studied the phenetic 

continuum in adult and seedling morphology 

between E. coccifera and E. nitida on several 

mountains in central south-western Tasmania. 

On these mountains (e.g. Tim Shea, The 

Thumbs, Clear Hill), there is a transition in 

adult form from stands typical of E. nitida at 

the base to forms approximating E. coccifera 

at the summit. The high-altitude populations 

develop waxy glaucousness on the stems and 

foliage, characteristic of E. coccifera. Although 

these clines were not marked in the seedling 

characters studied, E. coccifera exhibited a 


December 1996

comparatively high level of intraspecific 

variation, and Shaw et al. (1984) suggest that 

populations tending towards E. coccifera on 

mountains within the range of E. nitida are 

probably remnants of upslope migration 

since the last glacial. They suggest that the 

restricted distribution of E. coccifera in the 

west may be due to limited migration since 

that time from a south-eastern refuge. 

On the Central Plateau, Eastern Tiers and 

mountains of the south, E. coccifera generally 

occurs above 800 m to the tree-line (up to 

1290 m at Drys Bluff). On isolated mountains 

of the south-east, it occurs at the lower 

altitude range of 390 m to 800 m (cf. Figure 16). 

It is also found at these lower altitudes along 

the western margins of its range where it 

intergrades with E. nitida. The main flowering 

Figure 16. Altitude distribution of E. coccifera. 

n = 56 

Figure 17. Flowering times for E. coccifera. 

n = 326 

period is November to February, peaking 

through December and January (Figure 17). 

Eucalyptus coccifera is a widespread dominant 

of low, shrubby forests and woodlands in 

subalpine environments (Photo 6). The form 

is generally poor, ranging from a forest tree 

with low, spreading branches to a twisted and 

gnarled mallee with attractively red-streaked 

bark as exposure increases. It frequently 

forms pure stands, but a species from the 

series Viminales (i.e. E. dalrympleana, E. rubida, 

E. archeri, E. gunnii, E. urnigera, E. subcrenulata 

or E. johnstonii) may sometimes be present and 

subdominant, depending upon the geographic 

location. In topographic situations that are 

generally protected from the climatic 

extremes, E. coccifera shrubby woodlands 

merge into E. delegatensis open forest. 

COMMENTS: Apart from the intergradation 

between E. coccifera and E. nitida along the 

western geological divide, isolated stands 

of E. coccifera in the east may hybridise or 

intergrade with the lowland peppermints 

E. pulchella, E. amygdalina and E. tenuiramis. For 

example, the population included here from 

Alma Tier (cell 5033) is intermediate between 

E. tenuiramis and E. coccifera (Shaw et al. 1984; 

Wiltshire et al. 1991a, 1992) and, on Snug 

Plains (cell 5122), hybrids between E. pulchella 

and E. coccifera result from an unusual juxtaposition 

of these species (Davidson et al. 

1987). Intermediates between E. coccifera 

and E. tenuiramis have been reported from 

exposed coastal situations on Tasman 

Peninsula (e.g. cells 5722, 5723, 5822), 

Cape Deslacs (Kitchener 1985), and in some 

populations on Bruny Island (Wiltshire et al. 

1991a). A putative record for E. coccifera 

on McGregor Peak (cell 5724) needs field 

verification to determine whether a pure 

population of E. coccifera does actually exist 

in the Forestier – Tasman Peninsula region. 

However, recent work on the relationships 

among the peppermints by analysis of leaf 

oils (Li et al. 1995) suggests that 'typical' 

E. coccifera has closer affinities with E. nitida 

than with E. tenuiramis. Similarly, a record for 

E. coccifera from Freycinet Peninsula (cell 6033) 

is also likely to represent a misidentification 


December 1996

of E. tenuiramis. Other relatively low altitude, 

localised occurrences of E. coccifera from the 

south-east include Mount Ponsonby (cell 

5429), Snow Hill (cell 5636), Middle Peak (cell 

5627), Quoin Mountain (cell 5228) and Mount 

Seymour (cell 5330). 

Several unverified outliers have been 

recorded around the margins of the main 

E. coccifera distribution. Along the western 

margins of its range, unverified records for 

the occurrence of E. coccifera were treated as 

misidentifications of E. nitida (i.e. cells 3841, 

3939, 4041, 4126, 4240, 4329). However, recent 

reports of E. coccifera on Companion Hill (cell 

3942) and Mount Pearse (cell 3840) (F. Duncan, 

M. Brown, A. North, pers. comm. 1996) 

suggest that this species extends further into 

the far north-west than shown in Figure 15. 

In the north-east at Mount Barrow (cell 5341), 

an herbarium voucher specimen has never 

been verified, although there are ornamental 

plantings on Ben Lomond (cell 5540, see 

Davies and Davies 1989). In the far south, 

Mount La Perouse (cell 4718) represents an 

unlikely disjunct population on a sandstone 

substrate and, at Grass Tree Hill (cell 5226), 

the very low altitude suggests a misidentification 

or some form of hybrid with 

E. tenuiramis. Some very low altitude records 

for E. coccifera in the east (< 200 m, e.g. cells 

5631, 5533) are also expected to be misidentifications 

of E. tenuiramis or intermediates 

between E. coccifera and E. tenuiramis. 

KEY REFERENCES: Davidson and Reid 

(1987, 1989); Davidson et al. (1987); Davies 

and Davies (1989); Gilfedder (1988); Jackson 

(1973); Ladiges et al. (1983); Potts (1990a); 

Shaw et al. (1984). 

Photo 6. Eucalyptus coccifera growing amongst dolerite boulders in subalpine forest. 


December 1996

Eucalyptus cordata 



Common name: 

heart-leaved silver gum 


E. cordata in Tasmania. 

Eucalyptus cordata is a rare endemic species 

confined to south-eastern Tasmania (Figure 18). 

Small populations are scattered in two 

disjunct areas representing relatively distinct 

morphs (Potts 1989) (Photo 7). They are centred 

around the Wellington Range to the west and 

the general vicinity of Prossers Sugarloaf in 

the east. Potts (1989) undertook a population 

survey to evaluate the genetic diversity of the 

species over its full ecological and geographic 

range as a basis for the development of a 

conservation strategy. Its distribution closely 

follows the south-eastern glacial refuge (sensu 

Davies 1974) and the small, scattered, insular 

populations, frequently comprising suppressed 

individuals, are consistent with this relict 

pattern and are vulnerable to disturbance. 

Eucalyptus cordata is usually associated with 

medium to deep clay-loam soils derived from 

Jurassic dolerite bedrock. In the west (with 

increasing altitude), there is a trend towards 

occurrence on the poorer drained sites and, in 

the east (with decreasing rainfall and altitude), 

there is a shift to the drier micro-habitats and 

higher rock cover. 


December 1996

Photo 7. The eastern, round-stemmed morph (left) and western, square-stemmed morph (right) of E. cordata. 

Figure 19. Altitude distribution of E. cordata. 

n = 193 

Figure 20. Flowering times for E. cordata. 

n = 67 

Eucalyptus cordata occurs from near sea-level 

to 680 m but is most often found between 

200 m and 600 m (Figure 19). The eastern 

morph generally occurs at the lower altitudes 

(100–400 m) and the western morph is 

associated with subalpine habitats (400– 

680 m). The highest altitude occurrences 

are known from Herringback and Mundys 

Hills, east of Huonville. Eucalyptus cordata 

generally flowers from May to November 

(Figure 20) and exhibits a bimodal pattern 

which appears to be associated with the two 

morphs. The main flowering period of the 

eastern morph appears to be April to July 

(peaking in autumn) and, for the western 

morph, from September to November. 

However, more population-specific data 

are required to clarify this pattern. 

Eucalyptus cordata rarely forms pure stands, 

known exceptions being found at the summit 

of Perpendicular Mountain on Maria Island 

in the east, on the exposed, dry cliff scarp on 

Cape Queen Elizabeth and Penguin Island 

off Fluted Cape (Bruny Island), and in wet 

forest at Moogara to the west. In the east, 

E. cordata usually occurs as a stunted mallee 

shrub, scattered in the understorey of dry, 

open, lowland woodland dominated by 

E. pulchella, with occasional E. globulus. 


December 1996

Photo 8. Regeneration of E. cordata (western morph) locally dominating a site adjacent to E. delegatensis forest. 

However, with increasing altitude and 

rainfall to the west of its range, there is a shift 

towards greater cover and site dominance by 

E. cordata, and co-occurrence with species 

more commonly associated with wetter (e.g. 

E. obliqua, E. regnans) or subalpine habitats 

(e.g. E. delegatensis, E. coccifera, E. johnstonii, 

E. urnigera) (Photo 8). In these wetter 

regions, E. cordata can achieve a tree habit 

and frequently replaces the surrounding 

eucalypt species on the poorer drained sites 

dominated by the sedge Gahnia grandis. The 

persistent, highly glaucous, cordate juvenile 

foliage of E. cordata is a distinctive feature 

for which the species is widely planted as an 

ornamental. 

COMMENTS: The distribution of E. cordata 

was verified by Potts (1988, 1989), and 

locations that were more recently discovered 

fall within this domain. Putative locations of 

the eastern morph (cells 5427, 5527) suggested 

by Brown et al. (1983) were not verified. A 

hybrid swarm in the vicinity of Meredith Tier 

(cells 5732, 5733) was believed to involve 

E. cordata, but a recent study (McEntee et al. 

1994) indicates that glaucous morphs in 

this population may be related to E. gunnii. 

Persistent reports of E. cordata on Big Marsh 

near Platform Peak (cell 5027) and on Tasman 

Peninsula (cells 5622, 5721) also need field 

checking. The herbarium specimen from the 

former location may be juvenile E. urnigera. 

There is a verified population of E. cordata 

on Penguin Island (cell 5320, Potts 1988) off 

Fluted Cape, which is the type locality and 

represents the lowest altitude record (20– 

40 m) for the species. A large stand of tall 

trees of the western morph of E. cordata, 

occurring with E. regnans, has recently been 

found near Moogara (cell 4926; C. Mitchell, 

pers. comm.). There are also reports from the 

northern foothills of Mount Wellington near 

Glenorchy (cells 5225, 5125, D. Ziegler, 

J. Kirkpatrick, pers. comm. 1996). 

KEY REFERENCES: McEntee et al. (1994); 

Potts (1988, 1989). 


December 1996

Eucalyptus dalrympleana subsp. dalrympleana 



Common name: 

mountain white gum 


E. dalrympleana in Tasmania. 

Inset map: Distribution 

on mainland Australia. 

Eucalyptus dalrympleana is widespread and 

common on well-drained, upland slopes of 

the dolerite mountains and plateaux in 

northern, central, eastern and south-eastern 

regions (Figure 21). It intergrades clinally at 

lower altitudes with E. viminalis on the more 

fertile substrates such as Jurassic dolerite, and 

with E. rubida on dry, comparatively infertile, 

sedimentary substrates exposed to cold-air 

drainage. Intergradation with E. viminalis is 

more frequent than with E. rubida and has 

been studied by Phillips and Reid (1980). 

They found that clinal intermediates were 

the most common form, with genetically 

based, continuous variation in several 

characters occurring between morphs known 

as E. viminalis or E. dalrympleana. This 

variation is most noticeable in the juvenile 

leaf shape which grades from long, thin, 

lanceolate leaves typical of south-eastern 

coastal E. viminalis, to broad, cordate 

leaves characteristic of inland, subalpine 

E. dalrympleana. The morphs become more 

distinct (fewer intermediates) with the 

northward trend in latitude and steeper 

environmental gradients. 


December 1996

Eucalyptus dalrympleana is a mid- to highaltitude 

species generally occupying sites 

between 400 m and 800 m, and occasionally 

up to 1170 m (Figure 22). The lower altitude 

occurrences (150–400 m) are associated with 

cool, moist habitats, generally along the 

northern margins of its range, where 

intermediate forms become blurred in 

identity with E. viminalis. The highest 

altitude records are known from the Lake 

River catchment, east of Arthurs Lake on the 

Central Plateau. The main flowering period 

is from March to May, peaking in March and 

April (Figure 23). 

Eucalyptus dalrympleana rarely forms pure 

stands but is known to dominate small 

Figure 22. Altitude distribution of E. dalrympleana. 

n = 18 

Figure 23. Flowering times for E. dalrympleana. 

n = 596 

patches of forest in the north-eastern highlands. 

It is more commonly a subdominant 

or minor species in upland shrubby, wet and 

dry sclerophyll forests. In the wet forests, it 

usually occurs with E. delegatensis and, in the 

dry forests, E. pauciflora or E. amygdalina are 

frequent dominants. 

COMMENTS: In Tasmania, E. dalrympleana 

is known to be phenotypically distinct from 

its mainland counterpart (Barber 1955; Pryor 

and Johnson 1971), and Barber (1955) applied 

the term 'vim-dal' to refer to intermediates 

between E. dalrympleana of the Australian 

mainland and E. viminalis (Phillips and Reid 

1980). However, the term is widely applied 

by Tasmanian observers in reference to the 

uncertain identity of the frequent clinal 

intermediates between E. viminalis and 

E. dalrympleana. 

The distinction between E. viminalis, 

E. dalrympleana and E. rubida becomes obscure 

at altitudes between 200 m and 600 m, where 

the various clinal intermediates are not easy 

to classify. Low-altitude outliers (i.e. < 150 m) 

that were not verified were considered 

misidentifications of intergrading forms of 

E. viminalis (e.g. cell 4343). In the west, 

unverified outliers of E. dalrympleana are 

recorded near Strahan (cell 3633) and 

Waterfall Creek (cell 3830), and these same 

populations appear to have been ascribed to 

E. viminalis by some observers. In the northeast, 

unverified outliers are recorded for 

Mount Cameron (cells 5746, 5846), west of 

Mount Horror (cell 5545) and near Goulds 

Country (cell 5944). No verified occurrences 

are recorded on Maria Island, although 

Jackson (1965) indicates the presence of 

E. dalrympleana there (e.g. cell 5927). In the 

south-east, unverified outliers are recorded 

from near Balts Spur (cell 5723) and elsewhere 

on Tasman Peninsula (cells 5523, 5622). Other 

unverified outliers in southern Tasmania 

(cells 4918, 5019) are more doubtful. 

KEY REFERENCES: Austin et al. (1983); 

Battaglia (1990b); Phillips and Reid (1980); 

Valentini et al. (1990). 


December 1996

Eucalyptus delegatensis subsp. tasmaniensis 



Common name: 

gum-topped stringy bark, 

white-top 


E. delegatensis in Tasmania. 

Eucalyptus delegatensis subsp. tasmaniensis is a 

widespread and common endemic subspecies 

found throughout Tasmania (Figure 24), 

replacing E. obliqua and E. regnans in the 

highland regions on comparatively fertile, 

moist, well-drained sites. It is generally 

absent from the oligotrophic environments 

of the far west and south-west, and it is not 

known from the Bass Strait islands. 

Eucalyptus delegatensis most typically occurs at 

altitudes between 400 m and 900 m (Figure 25), 

the upper and lower limits depending on the 

particular geographic region. For example, in 

southern and western Tasmania, it is recorded 

from mountain slopes and valleys as low as 

100 m to 200 m where exposure to frost and 

cool growing-season temperatures is 

comparable with inland sites at higher 

altitudes. In the vicinity of the Central 

Plateau and Great Western Tiers, it has a 

lower altitude limit of around 400 m, while 

in the north-eastern highlands this is closer 

to 600 m. The highest altitude records known 

for E. delegatensis (up to 1240 m) are from the 

north-east, on Ben Lomond. The south-west 


December 1996

to north-east trend in the upper and lower 

altitude limits of E. delegatensis parallels 

the observations for the alpine tree-line in 

Tasmania (see Kirkpatrick 1982). However, 

E. delegatensis is also recorded at relatively 

low altitudes (150–400 m) along the northern 

margins of its range, consistent with similar 

low altitude occurrences of E. dalrympleana. 

The main flowering period is from January 

to March, peaking in January and February 

(Figure 26). 

Eucalyptus delegatensis (Figure 27) dominates 

a range of community types and is strongly 

associated with substrates derived from 

Jurassic dolerite, which are typically freedraining 

and have a high surface-rock cover. 

In upland tall, wet forest, such as in the northeastern 

highlands and Western Tiers, under- 

Figure 25. Altitude distribution of E. delegatensis. 

n = 65 

Figure 26. Flowering times for E. delegatensis. 

n = 2744 

storeys vary from rainforest to mesophytic 

shrubs. On the moist ridges, plateaux and 

slopes of the Eastern Tiers and south-eastern 

Central Plateau, a shrubby or grassy dry 

sclerophyll understorey develops in open 

forest. Open forest gives way to woodland in 

subalpine climates and in the drier regions of 

undulating country on the upland margins of 

the Midlands and Derwent Valley. Eucalyptus 

delegatensis frequently forms pure stands in 

wet forests but may co-exist ecotonally with 

E. obliqua at lower altitudes, with E. regnans 

on the more fertile sites, or with E. amygdalina 

as moisture availability decreases. In subalpine 

situations closer to the tree-line, it may coexist 

with E. coccifera, or with E. pauciflora in 

the inverted tree-line near the margin of frost 

hollows (Jackson 1973). Typical minor or 

subdominant species which co-occur with 

E. delegatensis include E. dalrympleana at higher 

altitudes or E. viminalis at lower altitudes. 

COMMENTS: In the far north-west, scattered 

records of E. delegatensis (i.e. cells 3143, 3341, 

3344, 3442) may be indicative of other western 

locations that are currently considered 

unverified outliers (i.e. cells 3548, 3631, 3633, 

3724). Western, low-altitude occurrences are 

recorded from the Heemskirk River region 

(cells 3536, 3537) and Cumberland Hill (cell 

3435), and eastern, low-altitude occurrences 

are known from Mount Pearson near 

St Helens (373 m, cell 6043), which is exposed 

to the prevailing weather of the north-east. 

Many of the southern coastal forms of E. obliqua 

(e.g. see cells 4517, 4717 in Figure 43) appear 

similar to E. delegatensis, with rough stem 

bark and smooth branches but are otherwise 

morphologically true to E. obliqua (F. Duncan, 

pers. comm. 1994). Occasional hybrids 

between E. obliqua and E. regnans in the 

Southern Forests (e.g. Lune River to Cockle 

Creek, cells 4818, 4819) and Tasman Peninsula 

(e.g. cell 5722) are sometimes incorrectly 

ascribed to E. delegatensis (M.J. Brown, pers. 

comm. 1994). Such hybrids may also account 

for some of the low-altitude, unverified 

outliers in the north (e.g. cell 3945, 5145) and 

other low-altitude occurrences recorded here 

for E. delegatensis (Figure 25). 


December 1996

KEY REFERENCES: Battaglia (1990a, 1993a, 

b); Battaglia and Reid (1993a, b); Battaglia and 

Wilson (1990); Boland (1985); Boland and 

Dunn (1985); Bowman (1986); Bowman and 

Kirkpatrick (1984, 1986a, b, c); Davidson and 

Reid (1985, 1987, 1989); Davidson et al. (1987); 

Ellis et al. (1985, 1987); Grose (1963); Hallam 

and Reid (1989); Hallam et al. (1989); Keenan 

and Candy (1983); Moran and Brown (1980); 

Moran et al. (1990); Nunez and Bowman 

(1986); Ohmart et al. (1984); Pederick (1990); 

Raymond (1994). 

Figure 27. Buds, flowers and fruits of E. delegatensis. 


December 1996

The natural distribution of Eucalyptus species in Tasmania - Forestry ...

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