Eucalypt Biology

Abstract

Eucalypts dominate much of the Tasmanian landscape and this striking feature was emphasised by many early European explorers and settlers (Plate 11). The type species for the genus is Eucalyptus obliqua which was collected from Adventure Bay on Bruny Island, Tasmania. and named by Charles L'Heritier in 1788. The genus occupies habitats from sub-alpine environments to coastal regions, and from the wet scrubs in the southwest, which have an annual rainfall in excess of 2 500 mm, through to dry sclerophyll woodlands of the midlands with an annual rainfall of less than 500 mm. The genus is also the basis for most of the forest industries in the State, including saw-logs, paper, pulp and woodchip exports. The economic significance of eucalypt management and breeding makes the biology of this genus of particular importance. This importance will be highlighted as the area of plantation eucalypts increased from 64 000 ha at a rate of 6 500 ha per annum in 1995-96.