The gum trees (eucalypts) on our property are many! And often hard to identify as my only book that covers trees has no photos and some minimal descriptions of leaves. This is, I believe, a ghost gum. Its white trunk and branches are so vivid against the rest of the green and brown that it is outstanding to see. This one was highlighted by sunshine, but at night in the moonlight I can see why this is their common name.
I think this is a candlebark gum. I've read that these were given their name by early settlers because in bushfires the curled bark (that hangs down in long strips) looks like candles when it burns.
Stringybark - again named for how it looks, I would say. The younger stringybarks are not as rough but this one is older and wiser.We also have peppermint gums and ironbarks, plus a few other varieties that I can't yet identify. One day I'll find a decent book!
5 comments:
I find tree bark interesting, too, especially on old growth trees. I have never ever seen a gum tree, so it's nice to see your presentation of this unique tree species. Does it have an aroma?
The bark doesn't really (I guess no more than other bark) but the leaves do. On a hot day there is a great tangy eucalyptus smell, and if you crush a leaf you can smell it too.
Sherryl, the Ghost Gum, E. papuana, is a central Australian tree, at a guess I'd say you've got E viminalis, Manna Gum there, it drops long ribbons of bark and can be quite white in the bark. See if you can find bud or fruit clusters, the're in threes for viminalis. Brittle Gum, E mannifera is another with chalky white bark, buds and fruits in threes too.
Oops! wrong, fours to sevens, I was thinking of E rubida, a similar tree,
Thanks, Duncan. Bud clusters I picked up yesterday were in sevens.
One of the locals called them manna gums so he is far more likely to be right than me!
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