GROWTH-RATES OF WESTERN MYALL (ACACIA-PAPYROCARPA BENTH) DURING ITS MAIN PHASE OF CANOPY SPREADING

Data collected by students during a decade are examined for use in constructing growth models of western myall trees during their mid-life phase of canopy spreading. Measurements of tree canopy diameters are found to be too variable (between replicates and through time) to describe growth patterns, but measurements of trunk girth prove more reliable. Two models for growth are presented, based on the trunk girth data set. The models lead to similar estimates of the time taken for canopy spreading, viz. about 160 years, which is consistent with previous anecdotal evidence of western myall longevity.