River Red Gum is the state's largest tree, arborists say - From:
adelaidenow - December 17, 2012 TUCKED away in a sheep paddock,
500m from a main road in the southern Flinders Ranges, is a
giant of our nation. Old Emu Foot in Melrose is the national
champion of River Red Gums and the biggest tree in the state,
arborists say. The National Register of Big Trees grows as
people nominate their local champions. Co-ordinator Derek
McIntosh from Balgowlah in NSW said the next biggest River Red
Gum was also in South Australia, at Watervale. Other contenders
were found in Victoria, NSW and Western Australia. River Red
Gums, found along watercourses as the name suggests, have the
widest natural distribution of any eucalyptus species. But they
are becoming increasingly rare as water sources dry up. Old Emu
Foot is a bit of a character, with a solid base shaped like the
big bird's foot.