Trees · Myrtaceae
River red gum
Eucalyptus camaldulensis
Spanish Eucalipto rojoCatalan EucaliptusIntroduced20–40 mEvergreen
A very tall tree with a smooth trunk mottled white, grey and cream, and drooping, sickle-shaped leaves.
- LeafBroad and flat
- LeafYes, a single blade
- ShapeSpear-shaped
- EdgeSmooth
- On the twigOne at a time, staggered
- In winterYes, always green
- BarkSmooth
- BarkFlaking in plates
- BarkWhite
- FruitCapsule that splits open
The leaf
A simple leaf, long and narrow, 10 to 25 cm, curved like a sickle and smooth-edged. It hangs vertically, is greyish green and smells of eucalyptus when crushed.
The bark
Smooth and mottled white, grey, cream and reddish. It peels off in plates and strips that dangle from the trunk or pile up at its foot.
The fruit
Small woody capsules, under 1 cm, cup-shaped with a lid of four protruding teeth.
The flower
White flowers made of a pompom of stamens. The flower bud has a pointed cap that drops off as it opens.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Habit
A very tall tree with a thick, sometimes crooked trunk and an irregular, thin crown.
Where it grows
Planted in Catalonia along roads, seasonal streams, parks and estates, especially near the coast and in the river deltas. It comes from Australia.
What it can be mistaken for
The colourful flaking bark recalls the London plane, but its leaves are narrow, evergreen and aromatic. The narrow leaves might recall the white willow, whose leaves are toothed and deciduous.
A story
The name camaldulensis comes from the monastery of Camaldoli in Italy, where the species was described from a tree growing in its garden. In Australia it grows along the banks of inland rivers.
Find out more
- Tree: Geekstreet, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us
- Bark: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fruit: Geekstreet, CC BY-SA 4.0