Dorrigo white-gum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dorrigo white-gum |
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| Eucalyptus dorrigoensis growing near Dorrigo | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
dorrigoensis
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The Dorrigo white gum (scientific name: Eucalyptus dorrigoensis) is a special type of tree. It grows only in New South Wales, Australia. This tree is known for its smooth, colorful bark. It can be white, grey, or even pink!
Its leaves are long and narrow, like a spear. The tree produces small groups of seven flower buds. These buds open into white flowers. After flowering, it grows cup-shaped or cone-shaped fruits.
What it Looks Like
The Dorrigo white gum is a tall tree. It can grow up to 30 meters high. That's about as tall as a ten-story building! This tree has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it gets damaged.
Its bark is smooth and can be white, grey, or pink. Sometimes, you might see rough bark near the bottom of the tree.
Young plants have bumpy stems. Their leaves grow in opposite pairs. These young leaves are egg-shaped or broadly spear-shaped. They are about 35-80 mm long and 13-40 mm wide.
Adult leaves are the same color on both sides. They are spear-shaped or slightly curved. These leaves are much longer, about 60-220 mm long and 12-27 mm wide. Each leaf has a stalk called a petiole, which is 5-25 mm long.
The tree's flower buds grow in groups of seven. They appear where the leaves meet the stem (called a leaf axil). Each group of buds is on a short stalk, 4-10 mm long. Individual buds have even shorter stalks, 1-3 mm long.
Mature buds are oval-shaped. They are about 4-5 mm long and 2-3 mm wide. Each bud has a cone-shaped cap called an operculum. The tree flowers in May, and its flowers are white.
After the flowers, the tree produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like a cone or a cup. They are about 3-4 mm long and 4-5 mm wide. The fruit has parts that stick out beyond its edge.
How it Got its Name
The Dorrigo white gum was first officially described in 1934. A botanist named William Blakely wrote about it in his book A Key to Eucalypts. He first called it Eucalyptus benthamii var. dorrigoensis.
Later, in 1990, two other botanists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill, changed its name. They decided it was a unique enough tree to be its own species. So, they named it Eucalyptus dorrigoensis.
The second part of its scientific name, dorrigoensis, comes from the place where it grows. It's found near Dorrigo. The ending -ensis is a Latin suffix. It means "from a place" or "belonging to a country." So, dorrigoensis means "from Dorrigo."
Where it Lives
The Dorrigo white gum grows in deep soils. You can find it in valley forests. These forests are located from near the upper Macleay River to the east of Tenterfield. It is most commonly found near Dorrigo.
