A tree potentially reaching 40 m tall, with a lignotuber.
It has a trunk of variable messy fibrous to tessellated / peppermint bark, extending up to the branches then shedding in ribbons and with highest branches often smooth.
It is endemic to NSW and is a listed threatened species. It is common in the southern highlands of NSW, from around Mittagong to Marulan. There is also a second patch west of Lake Burragorang (south-east of Oberon). It has been planted in other locations – such as Goulburn.
They form part of dry to moist or wet sclerophyll forests, often on lower ground with high moisture, on a variety of soils – sand to shale-clay.
Eucalyptus spp. have simple and usually alternate adult leaves with juvenile leaves starting off opposite to alternate (disjunct). In this species, the juvenile foliage / coppicing growth is very distinctive and useful for identification – ovate to cordate or deltoid, in opposite pairs and sessile – clasping the stems, to about 8 cm long and 5 cm wide – some what blue-green in colour and smelling very strongly of curry (others report spicey or cinnamon).
The adult leaves are disjunct, broadly-lanceolate to lanceolate to falcate, to 18 cm long and to about 2.5 cm wide, concolorous, glossy green, perhaps with a weaker spicey-smell.
The primary inflorescence of “eucalypts” (Angophora / Corymbia / Eucalyptus) is an umbellaster (an umbel-like cluster of flowers). In the flowers of Corymbia and Eucalyptus, the petals and sepals are fused into the distinctive calyptra / operculum (bud cap) which is shed when the flower opens (in some species, 2 bud caps (opercula) are shed). The flowers are conspicuously staminate – where many stamens are basically taking over the role of the petals, all surrounding one central carpel. In this species, the flower buds are arranged in leaf axils in simple groups (umbellasters) of strictly 7, in leaf axils. Mature buds are ovoid, to 5 mm long and 4 mm wide, yellow to green in colour with a conical to beaked operculum / calyptra and with the calyptra scar present (hence two bud caps per flower). Flowers are white, occurring mainly in spring to summer.
Eucalyptus produce a capsule (gum-nut) which house valves which open to release the seed. The fruits (capsules) of some boxes have a cylindrical to urceolate shape. In this species, the capsules are cup-shaped to campanulate to obconical – to 5 mm long and 6 mm wide. The disc is typically slightly raised to convex, with 3 or 4 valves, usually exserted or rim-level.
This tree is common on farms in rural NSW and has been planted widely. It has been planted commonly on the road verges of Wingecarribee Shire Local Government Area and typically thrives from plantings.
It is easily propagated from seed and can be found at some local native nurseries.
They do grow into large trees and so perhaps not best suited to the average urban garden. However, they could make a nice street tree or a specimen planting in a larger park or garden space. The juvenile leaves are very architectural and could be used in cut flower arrangements. It is also a threatened species that can be planted.
Propagate from seed.
This species can regenerate from epicormic shoots and the lignotuber as well as the seed bank, after fire. Regenerating trees in fire-affected areas are common.
It is well-known that Eucalyptus is a large and diverse genus. Between 700 and 950 known species are reported, occurring as far north as The Philippines, as well as Indonesia, New Guinea, Timor and Australia. Only 16 species reportedly occur outside Australia. They occur in all Australian states. NSW currently has about 250 species. (See this website for some detailed information: https://apps.lucidcentral.org/euclid/text/intro/learn.htm).
Eucalyptus – from Greek, eu, “well” or “true” and calyptus, referring to the calyptra (καλύπτρo) or operculum, which is a bud cap or covering which covers the developing flowers. The calyptra is a fusion of petals and/or sepals and is shed when the flower opens, leaving a flower with many stamens (staminate) surrounding one female part (carpel).
macarthurii – named for William Macarthur (1800-1882) (son of John Macarthur) – an enthusiatic botanist and horticulturalist who was involved in plant breeding as well as agricultural endeavours.
This species is is listed as a threatened species in the wild – listed as Endangered at the State and Commonwealth level.
NSW Flora Online (PlantNET) – Eucalyptus macarthurii profile page https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Eucalyptus~macarthurii
EUCLID – Eucalypts of Australia – Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research – Eucalyptus macarthurii profile page https://apps.lucidcentral.org/euclid/text/entities/eucalyptus_macarthurii.htm
Arcane Botanica YouTube Channel (Dan Clarke) – Eucalyptus macarthurii video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g_rLgH35vo
Arcane Botanica YouTube Channel (Dan Clarke) – Eucalypt Theory Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m89bALPO4uc