Myrtaceae

blakelyi — after W.F. Blakely (1875-1941), author of A Key to the Eucalypt, 1934.

Distinguished from Tumbledown Gum (E. dealbata) and Dwyer’s Gum (E. dwyeri) by fruit and form. It has more or less raised fruit disc whereas Tumbledown Gum and Dwyer’s Gum have flat or sunken discs. Distinguished from River Red Gum (E. camaldulensis) by buds, which are cone-shaped, and not beak-shaped, as on River Red Gum. ???Refer to Practical Information Note — The Red Gum Story ???.

Widespread, in most catchments and districts on the drier hills and slopes.

Qld, NSW, Vic.

Grassy woodlands on various soils. Commonly moderately fertile soils.

Tree to 20 m high with smooth, patchy white bark with grey to brown or red patches, shedding in large plates or flakes. Dull green or grey-green leaves.

Compact loams, below 800 m elevation. Tolerates frost, winter waterlogging and drought.

Hardy. Moderate growth rate. Prone to damage by psyllids (‘lerps’) in some areas, thought to be due to an imbalanced environment, lacking in understorey and predatory birds. ???Refer to Practical Information Note — The Red Gum Story???. Hybridises with Tumbledown Gum, Dwyer’s Gum and River Red Gum.

Usually white, mainly summer, but also late spring (generally just prior River Red Gum flowering). Heavy flowering may occur every 2-3 years, depending on season.

Early Feb to late May, and possibly throughout year. Monitoring required as seeds shed after maturity.

From seed (± 687 viable seeds per gram). 25-30°C is optimum germination temperature.

From seed, during favourable season such as wet summers, particularly in absence of competitive exotic grasses. Recovers well after fire.

Useful medium-level cover in windbreaks if interspersed with understorey and other eucalypts to reduce pysllid activity. Provides protection from fire as is relatively slow-burning, has high water content with low quantities of oils or resins, high salt level in leaves, and smooth bark.

Useful in gully erosion control, behind more fibrous-rooted understorey plants.

Good habitat. Flowers food for nectar-feeding birds and many insects, at a critical breeding time for many species. Insect-eating birds attracted. Hollows are nesting and refuge sites for many birds (e.g. parrots and the Australian Owlet-nightjar), mammals (e.g. Antechinus species) and reptiles (e.g. goannas). Foliage-gleaning and scale-feeding birds attracted.

Burns well.

Similar to other Red Gums. Used for fence posts, sleepers, garden edges and in furniture. Hard, red, strong and reasonably durable timber. Density about 980 kg/m3. Uniform texture and interlocked grain.

Attractive for parks and gardens, probably best interplanted with local native understorey shrubs and other trees to minimise damage from leaf psyllids or ‘lerps’.

Leaves produce dyes ranging in colour depending on mordants used.