Snappy gum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Snappy gum |
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| Eucalyptus racemosa near the Nowra-Braidwood road | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
racemosa
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Eucalyptus racemosa, often called snappy gum or narrow-leaved scribbly gum, is a type of tree found only in eastern Australia. It's usually a small to medium-sized tree. This tree has smooth bark that looks mottled, meaning it has different patches of color. Its leaves are long and narrow or egg-shaped. When it flowers, you'll see groups of seven to fifteen white flowers. After flowering, it produces fruit that looks like a small cup or cone.
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What Does the Snappy Gum Look Like?
The snappy gum is a tree that usually grows to be about 15 to 20 meters (around 50 to 65 feet) tall. Sometimes, it can also grow as a mallee, which means it has many stems growing from the ground. This tree has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber, which helps it regrow after fires.
Bark and Leaves
The bark of the snappy gum is very smooth and has a cool, mottled look. It can be white, yellow, grey, or cream-colored. You might also see wiggly lines on the bark, which are made by tiny insects!
Young snappy gum plants and new shoots have dull green, egg-shaped leaves. These leaves are about 5 to 17 centimeters (2 to 7 inches) long and 2.5 to 8.5 centimeters (1 to 3.5 inches) wide. Adult leaves are shiny green on both sides. They can be lance-shaped, curved, or egg-shaped, growing to about 6.5 to 20 centimeters (2.5 to 8 inches) long and 1 to 3.5 centimeters (0.4 to 1.4 inches) wide.
Flowers and Fruit
Snappy gum flowers are usually found in groups of seven to fifteen. Each group grows on a stalk about 0.5 to 2.5 centimeters (0.2 to 1 inch) long. The individual flower buds are oval-shaped and small, about 3 to 5 millimeters long. They have a rounded or cone-shaped cap called an operculum.
The snappy gum mainly flowers from July to September. Its flowers are white. After the flowers, the tree produces woody fruits called capsules. These fruits are shaped like a cup, cone, or half-sphere. They are about 3 to 6 millimeters long and 4 to 7 millimeters wide.
How Was Snappy Gum Named?
The snappy gum, Eucalyptus racemosa, was first officially described in 1797. A botanist named Antonio José Cavanilles gave it its scientific name in his book Icones et Descriptiones Plantarum.
The name racemosa comes from a Latin word that means "having racemes". A raceme is a type of flower cluster. However, this name is a bit misleading because the snappy gum's flowers don't actually grow in racemes!
Where Does Snappy Gum Grow?
Snappy gum trees grow in woodlands and forests. They often grow in areas with poor sandstone soils where there is a moderate to high amount of rainfall.
You can find snappy gum trees along the coast, on the tablelands, and on the western slopes of New South Wales. Their range stretches from places like Bombala, Bathurst, and Albury in New South Wales, all the way up to Gympie and Bundaberg in south-eastern Queensland.
Who Makes the Scribbles on the Bark?
The cool, wiggly lines you see on the bark of the snappy gum are very distinctive. These "scribbles" are actually made by a tiny insect called the scribbly gum moth. Its scientific name is Ogmograptis racmosa. The moth larvae (young moths) tunnel just under the surface of the bark, creating these unique patterns as they eat their way along.
Images for kids
- Features of the scribbly gum (Eucalyptus racemosa)
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Adult leaves and buds
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Fruit
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Trunk bark
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Bark, buds and leaves
