Angophora costata subsp. costata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Angophora costata subsp. costata |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Angophora |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
A. c. subsp. costata
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| Trinomial name | |
| Angophora costata subsp. costata (Gaertn.) Britten
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| Synonyms | |
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The Sydney Red Gum (Angophora costata subsp. costata) is a type of medium to large tree. It is found only in eastern Australia. This tree has smooth bark that changes color. It also has long, narrow adult leaves. Its flowers are white or creamy white. The fruit looks like a cylinder or barrel.
Contents
About the Sydney Red Gum
The Sydney Red Gum is a tree that usually grows up to 30 meters (about 98 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow after fires.
Bark and Leaves
The bark of this tree is smooth. It starts out pinkish to orange. Over time, it turns grey. Young plants and new shoots have leaves that attach directly to the stem. These leaves are oval-shaped. They are about 60 to 125 mm long and 20 to 65 mm wide. They grow in pairs opposite each other.
Adult leaves also grow in opposite pairs. They are shiny green on top and lighter underneath. These leaves are shaped like a spear or are slightly curved. They are about 70 to 190 mm long and 12 to 35 mm wide. Each leaf has a stem (called a petiole) that is 9 to 25 mm long.
Flowers and Fruit
The tree's flower buds grow at the ends of its branches. They are usually in groups of three. Each group is on a short stalk, about 3 to 20 mm long. The individual buds are round. They are 4 to 8 mm long and 5 to 7 mm wide.
The flowers are white and have green lines. They are about 3 to 4 mm long and wide. The Sydney Red Gum flowers from October to December. After flowering, the tree produces fruit. The fruit is shaped like a cylinder or barrel. It is 10 to 18 mm long and 9 to 17 mm wide. Each fruit is on a small stalk, 2 to 12 mm long.
Tree Name and History
The Sydney Red Gum was first described in 1788. This was done by a scientist named Joseph Gaertner. He gave it the name Metrosideros costata. Later, in 1916, James Britten changed its name to Angophora costata. In 1986, Gregory John Leach identified different types of this tree. He named the specific type we are talking about Angophora costata subspecies costata.
Where It Grows
This type of eucalypt tree likes sandy soil. It often grows on top of sandstone. You can find it naturally in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. In Queensland, it is common in the southeast. It also grows in the White Mountains National Park, but not connected to the main group.
In New South Wales, it mostly grows along the coast. This is from Coffs Harbour in the north down to Narooma in the south. It also grows as far west as the Blue Mountains. People often plant it in Victoria as an ornamental tree. In some places there, it has started to grow wild.
See Also
- List of Angophora species
