Errinundra shining gum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Errinundra shining gum |
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| Eucalyptus denticulata in the Snowy River National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
denticulata
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| Synonyms | |
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Eucalyptus sp. aff. nitens (Errinundra) |
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The Errinundra shining gum (scientific name: Eucalyptus denticulata) is a tall tree found only in certain parts of south-eastern Australia. It's known for its smooth, white bark. Its leaves have slightly toothed edges, and its flowers are white. This tree looks a lot like another type of shining gum, Eucalyptus nitens, and for a long time, scientists thought they were the same.
Contents
What the Errinundra Shining Gum Looks Like
The Errinundra shining gum is a very tall tree, usually growing between 35 and 60 meters (about 115 to 197 feet) high. Unlike some other trees, it doesn't have a special woody lump at its base called a lignotuber that helps it regrow after a fire.
Bark and Young Plants
Its bark is mostly smooth and can be white, cream, green, or brownish. Near the bottom of the tree, the bark can be rough and flaky. You might often see long strips of bark hanging from the upper branches.
Young Errinundra shining gum plants have stems that are square-shaped with small "wings" on their corners. The leaves on these young plants are arranged in opposite pairs. They are directly attached to the stem (which means they are sessile), and they can be egg-shaped, heart-shaped, or lance-shaped. These young leaves are usually 50 to 125 mm (about 2 to 5 inches) long and 17 to 45 mm (about 0.7 to 1.8 inches) wide.
Adult Leaves and Flowers
As the tree grows, its adult leaves are arranged alternately along the branches. They are shiny green on both sides and are shaped like a lance or slightly curved. These leaves are quite long, typically 130 to 250 mm (about 5 to 10 inches), and 14 to 25 mm (about 0.6 to 1 inch) wide. Each leaf has a stalk called a petiole that is 15 to 30 mm (about 0.6 to 1.2 inches) long. A special feature of these leaves is their edges, which are unevenly toothed and have small glands.
The tree's flower buds grow in groups of seven. They appear in the "armpits" of the leaves (called axils) on a single, unbranched stalk called a peduncle, which is 6 to 15 mm (about 0.2 to 0.6 inches) long. Each individual bud is either directly attached or has a very short stalk (a pedicel) up to 2 mm long.
Mature buds are oval or spindle-shaped, about 5 mm (0.2 inches) long and 3 mm (0.1 inches) wide. They have a cone-shaped or rounded cap called an operculum. This cap falls off differently compared to the Eucalyptus nitens tree.
Fruit
After the flowers, the tree produces a woody fruit. This fruit is a type of capsule that can be cone-shaped, cup-shaped, barrel-shaped, or cylindrical. It is usually 5 to 8 mm (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and 4 to 7 mm (0.16 to 0.28 inches) wide. The parts that open to release the seeds (called valves) are either level with the rim of the fruit or stick out slightly.
Taxonomy and Naming
How it Got its Name
The Errinundra shining gum was officially described for the first time in 1991. Two scientists, Ian Cook and Pauline Ladiges, gave it the scientific name Eucalyptus denticulata. They based their description on a sample collected by Kevin Thiele and Suzanne Prober in the Errinundra National Park. Their findings were published in a scientific journal called Australian Systematic Botany.
The second part of its scientific name, denticulata, comes from a Latin word meaning "with small teeth." This refers to the slightly toothed edges of its leaves. Scientists believe these uneven leaf edges might help protect the tree from animals that try to eat its leaves.
Before 1991, this tree was thought to be just a variation of the Eucalyptus nitens tree.
Where the Errinundra Shining Gum Lives
The Errinundra shining gum grows in wet forests and at the edges of rainforests. You can find it in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales.
In Victoria, it grows in the mountain ranges of East Gippsland, including the Errinundra Plateau and Mount Kaye. In New South Wales, it is found south of Bombala.
Images for kids
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Shining gum at Errinundra National Park, Australia
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80 metre tall shining gum, Snowy River National Park, Australia
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60 metre tall shining gum, Snowy River National Park
