Parramatta red gum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parramatta red gum |
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| Eucalyptus parramattensis at Burrendong Arboretum | |
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Eucalyptus
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parramattensis
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The Eucalyptus parramattensis, also known as the Parramatta red gum or drooping red gum, is a type of tree found only in eastern New South Wales, Australia. When a plant or animal is found only in one specific area, it's called endemic. This tree is usually small to medium-sized. It has smooth bark with different colors, long leaves, flower buds that grow in groups of seven, white flowers, and round, woody fruits.
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What Does the Parramatta Red Gum Look Like?
The Parramatta red gum is a tree that typically grows to be about 15 to 18 meters (around 50 to 60 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber, which helps it regrow after fires.
Bark and Leaves
The bark of this tree is smooth and has a cool, mottled (patchy) look with shades of grey, brown, and yellow.
Young trees and new shoots that grow from the base have dull green or bluish leaves. These leaves are usually 50 to 120 millimeters (about 2 to 4.7 inches) long and 5 to 30 millimeters (about 0.2 to 1.2 inches) wide.
As the tree gets older, its adult leaves become glossy green on both sides. They are shaped like a narrow spear, about 70 to 150 millimeters (about 2.8 to 5.9 inches) long and 12 to 25 millimeters (about 0.5 to 1 inch) wide. Each leaf has a stalk called a petiole, which is 8 to 25 millimeters (about 0.3 to 1 inch) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds of the Parramatta red gum grow in groups of seven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem (called a leaf axil). Each group of buds sits on a short stalk called a peduncle, which is 5 to 10 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.4 inches) long. The individual buds also have tiny stalks, called pedicels, about 3 to 5 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.2 inches) long.
When the buds are ready, they are oval-shaped, about 6 to 10 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.4 inches) long and 3 to 5 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. They have a pointy cap called an operculum.
The Parramatta red gum flowers from November to December, and its flowers are white. After flowering, the tree produces woody, round fruits. These fruits are called capsules and are about 3 to 5 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.2 inches) long and 5 to 7 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. The parts that release the seeds stick out above the rim of the fruit.
Where Does the Parramatta Red Gum Grow?
The Parramatta red gum prefers to grow in woodlands. You can often find it on flat or gently sloping land, especially in wet areas with sandy soils.
There are different types, or subspecies, of the Parramatta red gum found in various locations:
- The most common type, Eucalyptus parramattensis subsp. parramattensis, grows to the north-west of Sydney.
- Another type, Eucalyptus parramattensis subsp. decadens, is usually a less perfectly shaped tree. It has larger leaves, buds, and fruits compared to the main subspecies. This type is found in the lower Hunter River area.
- A third type, Eucalyptus parramattensis var. sphaerocalyx, has a more rounded cap on its buds. This variety grows from near Parramatta all the way to the foothills of the Blue Mountains.
