Blue Gum. Eucalyptus Globulus
I cycled past this Blue Gum then turned and went back.
The Blue Gum flowers are a critical food source for the endangered Swift Parrot. The Swift Parrots come across to Tasmania (from mainland Australia) in Spring to breed and, on arrival, have to seek the flowering trees. Blue Gums don’t flower every year – maybe because the flowers are so prolific the tree just can’t do it annually. So the Parrots have to hunt around to find the best spots for the current year.
I turned back because this tree is developing a heap of flower capsules and will be quite a sight in a couple of months. Each capsule will house a large white flower and, possibly, the Swift Parrots will find them.
It’s also interesting to see that somethings have been munching at the leaves. In their unmunched state the long leaves make good book marks. Not for a Kindle though.
4 response to "Blue Gum. Eucalyptus Globulus"
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Great post! Gum leaves as bookmarks is an especially appealing suggestion.
Hope you post some pictures when the tree is in bloom – even if it isn’t a tree challenge month!
Used gum as a bookmark and now the pages are stuck, or wait, that not what you said!
I too, would love to see the tree in full bloom — and the parrots too.
Those look like the ones we have here in No Calif. They sure make a mess and have contributed greatly to fire hazard in the Bay Area. But they smell great!