Re: Eucalyptus

According to Australian authorities there are probably more than 500 species of 
eucalypts recorded to this date.
The euc. that has been described Is Eucalyptus ficifolia,  although there is a very 
close relative that can be distinguished by differences in the fruit and the fact that it 
usually flowers earlier, E. Calophylla.  Since E. Calophylla hybridizes freely with E. 
ficifolia and normally has deep pink to white inflorescences it is possible that both 
species exist in California.   It would be important to trace these trees back to the 
seed source, which is an impossibliity. Other eucalyptus that are worthy of mention 
are E. erythronema, E. erythrocorys, E. eremophila, E. kruseana, and E. torquata.
For more information on eucalypts there is the excellent book " A Gardener's Guide to 
Eucalypts " by Ivan Holliday and Geoffrey Watton, which describes most of the major 
eucalypts, with pictures.  For a more definitive identification of the various species it 
would be necessary to compare the operculum (cap) and fruit.  A book which would 
supply the answer is "Eucalyptus Buds and Fruits" published by the Australian 
Government Publishing Service.  The book contains illustrations of the buds and fruits 
in 1:1 scale.

It should be noted that not all eucalypts are capable of self seeding within the 
parameters of a typical mediterranean climate.  In Israel the E. camaldulensis amd E. 
viminalis that were brought into the country for the purposes of  drying swamps ( and 
probably were not the best species for this purpose ) self propagate freely.  Many 
other species as E. torquata, E. erythrocorys, E. citriodora, E. kruseana and others 
have no inclination to self seed.  

Larry Harris
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