Flora of New Zealand Series

Large or very large tree; bark rough towards base but peeling in long strips to give a mottled grey and whitish upper trunk and branches. Juvenile lvs opposite for many pairs, sessile, to 20-(40) × 10-(16) cm, glaucous, ovate, prominently amplexicaul and cordate. Adult lvs with stout petiole to c. 4 cm long; lamina 11-25 × 2-4.5 cm, lanceolate, markedly falcate, coriaceous, glaucescent and concolorous, with distinct marginal vein 1-3 mm from margin; lateral veins diverging at 45-60° from midrib; base symmetric or somewhat oblique; apex acuminate. Fls axillary, nearly always solitary, sessile or pedicels short and strongly ribbed. Buds to c. 2.8 × 2.5 cm, strongly verrucose, glaucous-white; operculum < the quadrangular hypanthium, flattened except for short beak in centre. Stamens white; anthers oblong, with a prominent globular connective gland. Fr. subsessile, generally c. (1)-1.5 × (2)-2.5 cm, hemispheric, truncate or somewhat convex, 4-ribbed, glaucous, ± warty; valves 4-5, level with calyx tube apex; disc large, ascending, broad.

N.; S.; St.

Tasmania 1880

Near wind-breaks and plantations in scrub and herbaceous vegetation, especially on roadside banks.

FL Aug-Nov.

E. globulus has been widely planted for timber since the early days of European settlement, particularly in lowland South Id areas such as Canterbury. It was the first eucalypt to be recorded wild and is still the most likely sp. to naturalise in many cooler parts of the country. In colder parts of N.Z. it is known as blue gum, whereas in Australia and elsewhere in N.Z. it is known as Tasmanian blue gum. N.Z. trees belong to subsp. globulus. In addition to the key characters, E. globulus can often be recognised by its greater susceptibility than most eucalypts to insect attack; the pimply disfiguration of the lvs by chalcids of the genus Rhicnopeltella is characteristic.