Re: Corymbia (Eucalyptus) ficifolia

I've been following this discussion about Corymbia/Eucalyptus with interest.  

David Poole is correct....the new genus Corymbia was published by Ken Hill
and Lawrie Johnson in Telopea the journal of the National Herbarium of New
South Wales, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney way back in 1995.

Hill and Johnson published 113 species in the new genus, 80 of which were
formerly within Eucalyptus while the remaining 33 were newly described
species.  Corymbia comprises the bloodwoods and ghost gums.

The reclassification has not been without controversy and is not accepted
by all authorities.  It was particularly unpopular with some Australians
who regard Eucalyptus as an untouchable icon.   One of the arguments in
favour of the reclassification is that the bloodwoods are more closely
related to the genus Angophora than they are to many other Eucalyptus
species. 

Many who recognise the need for a reclassification would have preferred to
have seen Angophora incorporated as a subgenus within Eucalyptus, with
Corymbia also forming a subgenus.  This may yet be what happens in the long
term.  If Corymbia does eventually revert to Eucalyptus, I wonder whether
emotion will win out over scientific debate.

While the taxonomists sort it out, the following are some well-known
species now in Corymbia (some have already been mentioned:

C. calophylla  (Marri)
C. citriodora (Lemon-scented gum)
C. eximia (Yellow bloodwood)
C. gummifera (Red bloodwood)
C. terminalis (Inland bloodwood)
C.maculata (Spotted gum)
C.ficifolia (Red flowering gum)
C.ptychocarpa (Swamp bloodwood)

An interesting one is the famous Ghost Gum of central Australia, formerly
E.papuana.  This is now known as C. aparrerinja as C.papuana is now
regarded as occurring only  in New Guinea) 





Best wishes
Brian

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Brian Walters,
Society for Growing Australian Plants (SGAP)
World Wide Web;   http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/
Email;  brianwal@pnc.com.au (personal or SGAP)
           sgap@ozemail.com.au (SGAP only)
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