White Knight - the tallest manna gum

Coordinates:	-41.4023 S 147.9750 E
No:	173        (list of all attractions)
Category:	Trees
Values:	Biology
Rank:	7
Address:	Australia and Oceania, Australia, Tasmania, Evercreech Forest Reserve, some 15 km northeast from Mathinna
Alternate names:	TT 093
Species:	Manna gum (Eucalyptus viminalis Labill.), more often called: white gum
Height:	89 m
Diameter:	3.30 m
Circumference:	10.0 m
Volume:	180 m3

White Knight.
Nicolás Boullosa, Flickr. CC BY 2.0

White Knight.
Nicolás Boullosa, Flickr. CC BY 2.0

Several coincidences have spared the highest known white gum of the world - White Knight - from felling.

A group of enormous, incredibly tall trees in the forests some 30 km north from Fingal are known for many decades. There was an attempt to cut the trees already in 1940ies - 1950ies - but loggers rated that they will not get the logs out and it is not worth to spend time on this.

In 1970ies there was next attempt to cut the trees. Loggers built a road coming close to the giant trees and local forester Des Howe was assessing the potential gain from the cut. Forester was surprised at the incredible height of several trees - first measurements witnessed that one tree is 91m tall. After some discussions it was decided to save the trees and in 1977 there was created Evercreech Forest Reserve specifically for the protection of this group of eucalypts.

Des Howes was convinced that these trees are white gums (many species of eucalypts are called white gums - thus here we will use another name - manna gum). This was a botanical surprise - manna gum is common, for most part comparatively small tree. Only samples from the trees convinced botanists that there exists supertall white gum. Manna gum has very light color of trunk - thus the largest four trees have been nicknamed - White Knights.

Evercreech Forest Reserve is a beautiful natural forest. A well equipped walking track leads up to the trees - may be the trail is too much equipped because the tallest tree is enclosed in a boardwalk like a hand in handcuffs.

Tourism promoters constantly mention that eucalypts in this reserve exceed 90 m and even 100 m height. Exact measurement though tells a different story - the tallest tree is 89 m tall. It is estimated to be more than 300 years old, circumference is 10m.