Lemon-flowered gum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lemon-flowered gum |
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| Eucalyptus woodwardii foliage and buds | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
woodwardii
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| E. woodwardii, field distribution | |
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The Eucalyptus woodwardii, often called the lemon-flowered gum, is a special type of tree or shrub that grows only in Western Australia. People also sometimes call it Woodward's blackbutt. The Noongar people, who are the traditional owners of the land, call this tree Gungurra.
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What Does the Lemon-Flowered Gum Look Like?
This tree usually grows to be about 6 to 15 meters (20 to 50 feet) tall. Its branches can spread out more than 3 meters (10 feet) wide, creating a nice shady spot.
It has smooth bark that can be white, pink, green, or a light copper color. This bark often peels off in long strips, like ribbons.
Young leaves are oval or spear-shaped and can be up to 18 cm (7 inches) long and 9 cm (3.5 inches) wide. Older leaves are usually spear-shaped, about 18 cm (7 inches) long and 5 cm (2 inches) wide. They are a dull, grey-green color.
Its bright lemon-yellow flowers bloom from late winter to late spring. The flowers grow in clusters of three to seven. The flower buds look like small bells or urns.
After flowering, it produces bell-shaped or urn-shaped fruits, about 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) long and 1.4 cm (0.5 inches) wide. Inside these fruits are small, red, cube-shaped seeds.
How Was it Named?
The Lemon-flowered Gum, Eucalyptus woodwardii, was first officially described and named in 1910. This was done by a scientist named Joseph Maiden. He wrote about it in a science journal.
The first samples of the tree used for its scientific description were collected by Henry Deane in 1909. He found them along the Trans-Australian Railway line, about 120 miles (190 km) east of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.
Where Does it Grow?
The Lemon-flowered Gum is found in specific areas east of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. It likes to grow on flat areas or gentle hills where the soil is sandy or a deep sandy loam.
Growing Lemon-Flowered Gum in Gardens
This tree is very popular for planting in gardens in southern Australia. People love it because of its beautiful, large, lemon-yellow flowers. The way its grey leaves hang down, along with the bright yellow flowers, makes it a very attractive plant.
It's also a great choice for gardens because it can handle dry weather and even frost. Bees and birds are attracted to its flowers, which helps local wildlife.
The Lemon-flowered Gum grows at a medium speed and doesn't need much trimming. You can use it to create a privacy screen or as a special feature plant in your garden. You can buy its seeds or small plants (called tubestock) from nurseries.
In the 1970s, scientists even created a new type of tree by mixing the Lemon-flowered Gum with another tree called the coral gum (E. torquata). This new hybrid tree was named Torwood.
