Centurion is the name given to a single ''
Eucalyptus regnans
''Eucalyptus'' () is a genus of over seven hundred species of flowering trees, shrubs or mallees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Along with several other genera in the tribe Eucalypteae, including ''Corymbia'', they are commonly known as euc ...
'' tree growing in Southern
Tasmania
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, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
,
Australia, and the world's tallest known ''
Eucalyptus
''Eucalyptus'' () is a genus of over seven hundred species of flowering trees, shrubs or mallees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Along with several other genera in the tribe Eucalypteae, including '' Corymbia'', they are commonly known as e ...
''. The tree was first measured by climber-deployed tapeline at tall in 2008, and was subsequently re-measured to be tall by ground laser in 2018.
This discovery places ''E. regnans'' as the second-tallest tree species in the world after the
coast redwood
''Sequoia sempervirens'' ()''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 is the sole living species of the genus '' Sequoia'' in the cypress family Cupressaceae (formerly treated in Taxodiaceae). Common names include coast redwood, coastal ...
, and taller than both the
Sitka spruce and
Coastal Douglas Fir.
It was discovered in August 2008 by employees of Forestry Tasmania while analysing the data collected by
LiDAR system used in mapping and assessment of state forest resources.
Condition
The tree is in a small patch of very old forest surrounded by
secondary forest and has survived logging and forest fires by coincidence. Near Centurion grew two other giant trees: the 86.5 metre tall ''E. regnans'' named
Triarius and The Prefect which had a girth of 19m until destroyed in the 2019 fires.
In February 2019 it was damaged from a bushfire that devastated the surrounding area but appears to have initially survived. A new hollow in the base was created by the fire.
Height
Two more recent measurements indicated that the tree was growing, albeit very slowly. In January 2014 the tree was climbed and the tape drop indicated the tree had grown to 99.82m. However, a further tape drop done in 2016 obtained the slightly lower height of 99.67m. Centurion was re-measured again by ground laser in December 2018 and was found to have possibly reached 100.5 meters in height.
The diameter of Centurion is 4.05 metres, its girth exceeds 12 metres, and its volume has been estimated at 268 cubic metres. The name "Centurion" was saved for the hundredth noble tree to be discovered by Forestry Tasmania and coincided with the height of the tree. Named after
centurions (Roman officers), the root of the name contains ''centum'', which in Latin means "one hundred". Centurion is alternately known as "the Bradman" as the height of the tree at 99.82 metres was close to the
Test
Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to:
* Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities
Arts and entertainment
* ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film
* ''Test'' (2014 film), ...
run average of the Australian cricketer
Donald Bradman.
See also
*
List of individual trees
*
List of tallest trees
This is a list of the tallest known species of trees, as reflected by measurements of the tallest reliably-measured individual specimen. Although giant trees grow in both tropical and temperate regions, they are very restricted geographically and ...
*
List of named ''Eucalyptus'' trees
References
{{Southern Tasmania , state=autocollapse
Individual eucalypts
Tourist attractions in Tasmania
Southern Tasmania
Tasmanian forests
Individual trees in Tasmania