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Flowering Gum

Corymbia species

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Field Notes

Description:

Tall growing flowering gum tree native to Australia, long large, leathery leaves, hard clustered fruiting bodies in the form of 'gumnuts', preceded by brilliant pink blossoms or flowers with yellow tips. Not a true gum but a bloodwood, rough bark, prefers sandy soils, produces copious amounts of nectar and favoured by birds, insects & small mammals, usually flowers in late summer & every second year appears to produce larger amount of flowering. Leaves, blossoms & nuts provide spectacular ornamental qualities.

Habitat:

A native of south west Western Australia, but now growing widely throughout the country after various propagation techniques implemented including some grafting, although the latter does not produce excellent results - growing from seed seems preferred by some. This one growing in semi-garden bushland environment in sandy loam soils within 500m of major freshwater river system in north east NSW.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

Thanks alana1, lucasm2 & ismael1 for your comments, Glad you liked the photos of this wonderful Australian plant.
I saw that one of yours Neil & it does look very similar, most likely same hybrid. There's a lot of cross breeding both by human hand & naturally. I wondered why I could get so close to a particular bird one day & realised it had its eyes closed, was taking a nap as it had become so drunk on nearby bottlebrush as well as anything else it tasted! They often just lay down under a tree, very funny. Thanks also emilianog1, ximena1, yeal1, tomasp1, daphne1 for your comments.
Birds are so funny when they're drunk. I spotted this flowering eucalypt down in Sydney. Same species? This one's a hybrid cross called Summer Beauty. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/171976120
Flowering gum is a general common term, but all 'gums' flower and most blossoms are either white, pale greenish white, cream , pink, orange or red. The Lorikeets would definitely be on them as with this one, I have had them falling from the tree staggering on the ground in a drunken stupor & wise not to approach them as they are very aggressive in those moments.
Did not realise Bloodwoods aren't real gums. I think these flowers are the ones that the Rainbow and Scaly-breasted Lorikeets go crazy for
Photographed
PublishedMarch 25, 2014

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