Kingdom Plantae Family Myrtaceae Scientific name Eucalyptus nicholii Rank Species | Order Myrtales Genus Eucalyptus Higher classification Gum trees | |
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Similar Gum trees, Eucalyptus pulverulenta, Eucalyptus polyanthemos, Eucalyptus mannifera, Eucalyptus sideroxylon | ||
Eucalyptus nicholii, commonly known as the narrow-leaved black peppermint or willow peppermint, is a Eucalypt tree native to New South Wales.
The tree is small to medium-sized with rough bark, persistent to small branches. The bark is fibrous, coarsely fissured longitudinally, yellowish-brown to grey-brown with red-brown underlayers becoming smooth and grey on outer branches and shedding in short ribbons. It is a long lived tree that grows to 15 metres (49 ft) in height
Adult leaves are stalked with a narrow-lanceolate shape, the blade is to 6 to 14 centimetres (2 to 6 in) long and 0.5 to 1.2 cm (0.20 to 0.47 in) concolorous and dull, grey-green.
White flowers appear in late summer to early autumn.
The tree grows is found on shallow, relatively infertile soils overlying shale and slate bedrock usually as part of grassy or sclerophyll woodlands, in association with Eucalytpus andrewsii and Eucalyptus caliginosa.
Distribution is of limited occurrence on the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, particularly in the Walcha, to Tenterfield, area and to the east. The species is sparsely distributed, but most commonly occurs in the central areas of its range. The entire population is known from less than 40 localities, with most known populations not occurring in the National Parks or State Forest reserve estate.
This tree is very widely planted as an ornamental in south-eastern Australia, the fine, dense foliage being particularly attractive.
It was listed as vulnerable in 2008 under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.