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World's tallest hardwood tree found in Tasmania
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-11 12:59

CANBERRA -- The world's tallest hardwood tree has been discovered in Australia's southern island state Tasmania, Forestry Tasmania managing director Bob Gordon announced on Friday.

Gordon said in Hobart, the state capital, the swamp gum (eucalyptus regnans), dubbed Centurion, stands between 100 and 101 meters tall, and it was the tallest known tree in Australia.

It was discovered recently in a state forest near the Tahune Airwalk tourist attraction, 80 km south-west of Hobart.

"It is the only known standing hardwood tree in the world to be over 100 meters tall," Australian Associated Press quoted Gordon as saying.

It is the world's tallest eucalyptus tree, the tallest hardwood tree, and the tallest flowering plant, he said.

Centurion is 405 cm in diameter and its height was measured using laser survey equipment.

A second giant swamp gum named Triarius, standing 86.5 meters tall with a 390 cm diameter, was found alongside Centurion.