EUCALYPTUS RODWAYI
Myrtaceae
Swamp Peppermint
(Named in honour of L. Rodway (1853-1936) author of Tasmanian
Flora.)
The common name is misleading as rodwayi is a gum related to ovata and not
a peppermint.
Small tree, 9-18 m high and 30-60 cm in diameter. The trunk
is moderately straight but can be divided into two or more large stems near
ground level or persist to more than three-quarters of tree height.
Flowering mid to late summer; mature leaves alternate, stalked, lanceolate
6 -12 x 1-1.5cm, rarely broader. Very firm texture.
Swamp Peppermint occurs scattered in distinctive habitats over
much of Tasmania, with the exception of the high rainfall west coast. It's
common around the edges of the central plateau, but is found on damp sites
along much of the east coast and in a few places south of Hobart. Topography
appears more important than altitude, as it grows on soils which are either
damp throughout most of the year or even waterlogged at times, such as marshes
or valley bottoms in hilly plateau country.
(Further reading: Forest Trees of Tasmania Field Guide)
TAS endemic
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