Broad-leaved Peppermint - native (Eucalyptus dives)

Broad-leaved Peppermint is common south of Castlemaine e.g. Metcalfe, Fryers Ridge and Porcupine Ridge. It is abundant along Blackfellows Gate Road (Metcalfe), growing with Red Gum and Candlebark. It is often a rather small, straggling tree.

Recognise Broad-leaved Peppermint by:

• the finely fibrous bark (similar to that of box eucalypts)
• the broad (over 2cm wide), paired, tapering juvenile leaves
• the numerous oil dots in the leaves; the leaves have a strong eucalyptus smell if crushed
• the radiating clusters of buds and fruit.

Some local Broad-leaved Peppermints have unusually small leaves, and it is not always easy to distinguish between Narrow-leaved and Broad-leaved Peppermints. The broad juvenile leaves of E. dives are distinctive.

Name. dives: rich, plentiful, possibly from the plentiful oil dots in the leaves.

1: Flowers. Black Hill. 2: Fruit and buds. Garden specimen, Otways.

4: The broad, paired juvenile leaves . 5: Mature Broad-leafed Peppermint. Powers Lookout.