Blue gum

Trees, to 60 m; trunk bluish gray, straight, smooth; bark shed in irregular strips distally, sometimes persistent toward trunk base; twigs ± square or winged. Leaves mostly strongly aromatic; petiole 1.5–2.5 cm, flattened; blade green, usually narrowly lanceolate, often sickle-shaped, 10–30 × 2.5–4 cm. Peduncles 0.1–1 cm. Inflorescences: flowers solitary, sessile or subsessile. Flowers: hypanthium obconic, ± 4-ribbed, to 20 mm, glaucous; calyptra flattened-hemispheric, with central knob, warty, glaucous; stamens creamy white. Capsules hemispheric or obconic, ± 4-ribbed, 5–21 mm, glaucous, thickened, warty, rim wide; valves 3–5, ± level with apex or exserted. 2n = 22.

Flowering fall–winter. Disturbed areas; 0–300 m; introduced; Calif.; se Australia; introduced also widely.

Eucalyptus globulus is known from the Outer North Coast Ranges, Great Central Valley, and central-western and southwestern California.

Eucalyptus globulus is commonly cultivated in warm regions of the world for its fast-growing timber and for paper pulp. The species is the tallest angiosperm in North America, easily recognized by the large, solitary flowers and fruit.