Eucalyptus deglupta is a tall tree, commonly known as the rainbow eucalyptus, Mindanao gum, or rainbow gum. It is native to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines, and is the only Eucalyptus species with a natural range that extends into the northern hemisphere. It is characterized by multi-colored bark featuring hues of blue, purple, orange and maroon. It thrives in rich, medium to wet soil in full sun and is intolerant of frost.
Video Eucalyptus deglupta
Description
In its native habitat, E. deglupta grows up to 2 m (6 ft) wide and over 80 m (250 ft) tall. Outside of its natural habitat, it will only grow up to 38 m (125 ft) tall.
E. deglupta is also known as the Mindanao gum tree, named after the island of Mindanao in the Philippines of which the tree is native to. Gum trees are a group of eucalyptus trees that are characterized by their smooth bark that periodically sheds. E. deglupta are commonly planted as ornamental trees in frost-free climates such as Hawaii, Southern California, Texas, and Louisiana.
Maps Eucalyptus deglupta
Reproduction
E. deglupta features evergreen foliage and flowers once a year. Flowering may occur within the 1st year but usually begins after 2 years and continues annually. The tree produces white flowers with moderately wide leaves. The flower buds contain stamens and pistil and are usually pollinated via bee. After fertilization, the flower capsule becomes a woody fruit, known as a gum nut, which contains the seeds.
Rainbow Bark
The unique multi-hued bark is the most distinctive feature of the tree. Patches of outer bark are shed annually at different times, showing a bright green inner bark. This then darkens and matures to give blue, purple, orange and then maroon tones. The previous season's bark peels off in strips to reveal a brightly colored new bark below. The peeling process results in vertical streaks of red, orange, green, blue, and gray. The colours of the bark are not as intense outside the tree's native range.
Uses
In the present day this tree is grown widely around the world in tree plantations, mainly for pulpwood used in making white paper. It is the dominant species used for pulpwood plantations in the Philippines.
References
External links
- Worldagroforestrycentre.org - detailed description: Eucalyptus deglupta
Source of article : Wikipedia
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