Height to:	40 m	Diameter to:	2.0 m
Weight:	Seasoned (12% m.c.) approx. 900 kg/cu.m.	Bark:	Smooth, sometimes mottled grey, brown, cream.
Wood Colour:	Red	Flowers:	White. December to February
Texture:	Close textured and grain often interlocked.
Adult Leaves:	Green to greyish green. Lanceolate. 10-25 cm long.

River Red Gum is one of the most common inland trees of Australia found along watercourses throughout all states except Tasmania, and is probably the tree which is most synonymous with the outback. Whether water is flowing on the surface or not, watercourses can be traced by following the line of the Red Gums.

As spectacular as they are and even for the lovely shade they give, it is inadvisable to pitch a tent or erect any building for that matter under a Red Gum tree because, during the hot spells of weather, it has a tendency to drop a limb without any warning. Although parts of the tree are used to treat head colds by the Aborigines, one suspects that one might require an ambulance instead if this was to happen. The species does produce good honey though which might soothe some tempers.

Last century, transporting Red Gum to market had to be done by boat or bullock teams and not simply floated down river as Red Gum sinks in water. The timber is very durable though and in the late 1980's some Red Gum logs were discovered, buried in what was once a swamp, that have been dated at 5000 years old. The timber has turned from deep red to almost black in colour but otherwise has been unaffected.