The natural distribution of Eucalyptus species in Tasmania - Forestry ...

Eucalyptus barberi
SUBGENUS: Symphyomyrtus
SERIES: Ovatae
Common name:
Barber's gum
Figure 9. Distribution of
E. barberi in Tasmania.
Eucalyptus barberi (Photo 3) is a rare endemic
species which occurs locally as small, disjunct
populations on highly insolated, dry, rocky,
dolerite ridges and drought-prone, northwest
facing slopes of the Eastern Tiers and
associated seaward foothills (Figure 9). There
is a minor geographic discontinuity in the
range of this species in the vicinity of the
Prosser River valley. The morphological
distinction between northern and southern
populations of E. barberi does not correspond
with this geographic disjunction. Rather, the
high level of genetic variability is typical of a
species distributed as a series of small
isolated populations (McEntee et al. 1994).
Eucalyptus barberi is predominant in the
altitude range from 200 m to 400 m, with a
few occurrences down to 130 m or up to
500 m (Figure 10). The lowest known
altitude occurrence is from Cherry Tree Hill,
north-east of Cranbrook, and the highest is
from near Organ Hill, south of the Douglas
River. The main flowering period appears to
be from March to August, broadly peaking
between April and July (Figure 11).
Tasforests Vol. 8 53
December 1996