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Moreton Bay Ash

Corymbia tessellaris (syn. Eucalyptus tessellaris)

Photo by Neil Ross
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

An easily-identifiable and eye-catching species, "Moreton Bay ash", aka carbeen, carbeen bloodwood and blackbutt, is a ghost gum tree of the family Myrtaceae, and is an Australian native. Height ranging from small to 35 metres tall, forming a lignotuber. Its bark is rough on the lower part of the trunk (1–4 m) and looks like a stocking, is tessellated, dark grey to black, abruptly changing to a very pale grey or creamy-white smooth bark, although sometimes powdery. Name from Latin: tessellaris - tessellated, referring to the rough bark in small squares. Not to be confused with Eucalyptus pilularis, also known as blackbutt. NB: I've place the images of the bark first with this spotting simply because it's one of the most obvious features of this species. The dark "stocking" of tessellated bark is really quite striking.

Habitat:

Spotted just outside the township of Grandchester, QLD, on the banks of Western Creek, a freshwater tributary of the Bremer River, which itself is a tributary of the Brisbane River. Much of the surrounding area has been cleared for grazing livestock. Moreton Bay ash grows in open forest, dry sclerophyll forest, beach forest, and on rainforest margins. A resilient species, it withstands strong winds, heat and drought, and tolerates a moderate amount of salt spray. Ranges from Cape York Peninsula in FNQ, southward to northern NSW, and also occurs in New Guinea.

Notes:

PS: Despite the second reference link saying "403 Forbidden", it still works and connects to the EUCLID - Eucalypts of Australia website.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)

So true, Mark. And new words have to start somewhere :)
Extraordinary change from new to old bark. I reckon eucalypts are the most interesting trees barkwise. (new word) Thanks.

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