Yarra gum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yarra gum |
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| Eucalyptus yarraensis near Arthurs Creek, Victoria | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
yarraensis
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The Yarra gum, also known as Eucalyptus yarraensis, is a special type of tree. It only grows in Victoria, Australia. This tree has rough bark on its main trunk and bigger branches. Its adult leaves can be shaped like a spear, an oval, or an egg. The Yarra gum also has white flowers that grow from buds in groups of seven. After flowering, it produces cone-shaped fruits.
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What the Yarra Gum Looks Like
The Yarra gum is a tree that usually grows to be about 15 to 20 meters tall. That's like a five-story building! It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it gets damaged, like by a bushfire.
Bark and Leaves
The bark on the trunk and larger branches is rough. It can be brown or grayish and feels a bit like fiber. Higher up on the tree, the bark is smooth and white or cream-colored.
Young Yarra gum plants and new shoots that grow from the base (called coppice) have shiny green leaves. These leaves are shaped like ovals or eggs. They are about 2.5 to 6.3 centimeters long and 2 to 4.3 centimeters wide.
Adult leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the stem. They are shiny green on both sides. These leaves can be shaped like a spear, an oval, or an egg. They are usually 6 to 13.5 centimeters long and 1.7 to 4 centimeters wide. Each leaf has a stalk, called a petiole, which is about 1 to 2.8 centimeters long.
Flowers and Fruit
The Yarra gum's flower buds grow in groups of seven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem, which is called the axil. Each group of buds sits on a small stalk, or peduncle, which is 4 to 15 millimeters long. The individual buds also have tiny stalks, called pedicels, about 2 to 3 millimeters long.
When the buds are ready, they are oval or diamond-shaped. They are about 3 to 6 millimeters long and 3 to 4 millimeters wide. Each bud has a cap, called an operculum, which is cone-shaped or has a beak. This cap is about the same length as the base of the flower, called the floral cup.
The Yarra gum flowers between September and December. Its flowers are white. After the flowers, the tree produces woody, cone-shaped fruits. These fruits are about 3 to 5 millimeters long and 4 to 5 millimeters wide. They are a type of capsule, which means they open to release seeds.
Where the Yarra Gum Lives
The Yarra gum grows in valleys and on the slopes nearby. It prefers open woodlands. Sadly, much of its natural home has been cleared for farms. You can find this tree in areas between Melbourne, Daylesford, and Ararat in Victoria.
Naming the Yarra Gum
The Yarra gum was officially described in 1922. Two scientists, Joseph Maiden and Richard Cambage, gave it its scientific name, Eucalyptus yarraensis. They wrote about it in Maiden's book, A Critical Revision of the Genus Eucalyptus. They found the tree in the Yarra Valley near Healesville, which is how it got its name.
