EVERYONE SEEMS TO KNOW about the soaring redwoods of California and their record height, the tallest measuring 115.6m. Australia's iconic eucalypt giants, however, receive far less attention, although they are close rivals for California's botany crown.
In total there are only 22 tree species worldwide known to reach over 80m tall. These trees are native to only three areas of the world; the west coast of North America, Borneo and Australia. All the Australian species are from the Eucalyptus family.
Australia's mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) is the second tallest growing tree species in the world. The tallest specimen – nicknamed 'Centurion' – stands at 99.6m in Tasmania's Arve Valley. It is the world's tallest flowering plant and known hardwood tree.
The species grows extraordinarily quickly, reaching its maximum height in 200 years, a rate five times faster than the redwoods.
"The eucalypts do not live long enough to rival the redwoods in size. However, there may have been genetic 'freaks' that may have – and could in the future – reach over 100m tall," says Brett Mifsud, a specialist in finding and measuring tall trees.
Historic records show that in 1880 a felled mountain ash was recorded at 114.5m in Thorpdale, 137km south-east of Melbourne, making it the tallest tree in the world at the time.
In total there are only 22 tree species worldwide known to reach over 80m tall. These trees are native to only three areas of the world; the west coast of North America, Borneo and Australia. All the Australian species are from the Eucalyptus family.
Australia's mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) is the second tallest growing tree species in the world. The tallest specimen – nicknamed 'Centurion' – stands at 99.6m in Tasmania's Arve Valley. It is the world's tallest flowering plant and known hardwood tree.
The species grows extraordinarily quickly, reaching its maximum height in 200 years, a rate five times faster than the redwoods.
"The eucalypts do not live long enough to rival the redwoods in size. However, there may have been genetic 'freaks' that may have – and could in the future – reach over 100m tall," says Brett Mifsud, a specialist in finding and measuring tall trees.
Historic records show that in 1880 a felled mountain ash was recorded at 114.5m in Thorpdale, 137km south-east of Melbourne, making it the tallest tree in the world at the time.