Eucalyptus species identification (II): bark revisited


By their fruits ye shall know them (II)
More small tips on Eucalyptus Identification

Gustavo Iglesias Trabado Contact GIT Forestry Consulting
GIT Forestry Consulting - Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal - www.git-forestry.com
EUCALYPTOLOGICS


We have seen a previous example in EUCALYPTOLOGICS of bark features being sometimes misleading for accurate Eucalyptus species identification. In that case, different bark types were present for the same Eucalyptus species. Today we see another example, but reversed. In this case, similar bark types belonging to different Eucalyptus species (Enlarge Fig. 1).

Eucalyptus species identification: bark is not enough / Identificacion botanica de especies de eucalipto: la corteza no basta / Eucalyptus botanical sampling / Flower buds, capsules, bark / Flores, capsulas, corteza / GIT Forestry Consulting, Consultoria y Servicios de Ingenieria Agroforestal, Lugo, Galicia, España, Spain / Eucalyptologics: Information Resources on Eucalyptus Cultivation Around the World

Fig. 1: Example of "bark only" diagnosis misleading Eucalyptus species identification (Click image to enlarge)



Observation and patience might easily be the two main ideas when trying to work out which of the Australian trees is standing in front of you. And observing an Eucalyptus for species identification is a process that takes several sequential steps. But undoubtly, those organs yielding the most information tend to be their flowers and their seed bearing capsules.

Corymbia maculata seed capsules / Eucalyptus maculata infrutescences / Spotted gum fruits / Eucalipto de Corteza de Arce, frutos / GIT Forestry Consulting, Galicia, Spain, España, Spain / Eucalyptologics: Information Resources on Eucalyptus Cultivation Around the WorldFig. 2: Urceolate and globose infrutescences of Corymbia maculata (Spotted Gum, ex Eucalyptus maculata). Compare to Eucalyptus pauciflora (Fig. 1, right).

However, the same way bark is not always enough, flowers and capsules alone can be insufficent in some cases for a foulproof botanical diagnosis, especially due to they sharing with bark both seasonal and yearly variability. The ideal sampling includes the different stages of reproductive organ maturation, from flower buds to senescent capsules, and also foliage.

Eucalyptus Identification, example of sample collection for species determination / Identificación de eucaliptos, ejemplo de recolecta de muestras para determinación botánica de la especie / GIT Forestry Consulting, Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Galicia, Spain, España / Eucalyptologics: Information Resources on Eucalyptus Cultivation Around the WorldFig. 3: Example of botanical sample gathering methodology for accurate Eucalyptus species identification (Click to enlarge)


Full sampling is not always required for Eucalyptus species identification albeit the more pieces of the puzzle being observed, the more accurate botanical diagnosis is. And easier! There are several hundred different Eucalyptus taxa, species, subspecies, varieties, and hybrids to get confused with. But lacking everything else, by their fruits (and not bark) you shall know them!

Interesting links


Discovering Eucalyptus: Anthesis (I) / Descubriendo los Eucalyptus: Antesis / Eucalyptus Botanical Art / Macro Photography / Brian Johnston, Toronto, Canada / Gustavo Iglesias Trabado, GIT Forestry Consulting, Lugo, Galicia, España, Spain / Eucalyptologics: Information Resources on Eucalyptus Cultivation Around the World

Anthesis in
Eucalyptus robusta (Swamp Mahogany) flowers.

Photography by Brian Johnston (Click image to enlarge)


Eucalyptus seed capsules, flower buds, immature seed pods, mature seed pods, senescent seed pods, capsule collection and seed extraction methodology / Semilla de eucalipto, flor de eucalipto, capsulas inmaduras de eucalipto, capsulas maduras de eucalipto, capsulas extramaduras de eucalipto y metodos para cosecha de semilla de eucalipto / Corymbia calophylla seed / Red Flowering Gum Seed / Semilla de eucalipto de flor roja / GIT Forestry Consulting, Consultoria y Servicios de Ingenieria Agroforestal, Lugo, Galicia, Spain, España, Europe, Europa / Eucalyptologics: Information Resources on Eucalyptus Cultivation Around the WorldMaturation stages for eucalypt fruits collected on Corymbia calophylla (Marri) trees in a single visit, showing some of the internal organs within Eucalyptus infrutescences in each phase. (Click to enlarge)


Eucalyptus seed capsules, flower buds, immature seed pods, mature seed pods, senescent seed pods, capsule collection and seed extraction methodology / Semilla de eucalipto, flor de eucalipto, capsulas inmaduras de eucalipto, capsulas maduras de eucalipto, capsulas extramaduras de eucalipto y metodos para cosecha de semilla de eucalipto / Eucalyptus pauciflora seed / Snow Gum Seed / Semilla de Eucalipto de las Nieves / GIT Forestry Consulting, Consultoria y Servicios de Ingenieria Agroforestal, Lugo, Galicia, Spain, España, Europe, Europa /Eucalyptologics: Information Resources on Eucalyptus Cultivation Around the WorldDifferent simultaneous stages of the reproductive cycle and eucalypt seed maturation process in a standing Snow Gum Eucalyptus tree.(Click to enlarge)


Cold hardy Eucalyptus forestry seedling nurseries in Galicia / Viveros de planta de eucalipto resistente a la helada en Galicia / GIT Forestry Consulting, Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Galicia, España, Spain, Europe / Eucalyptologics: Information Resources on Eucalyptus Cultivation Around the WorldAfter Eucalyptus seed collection: examples of Eucalyptus seedling nursery stock for afforestation


Find a local expert to ID your Eucalyptus


If you have an unknown eucalypt around and you are able to collect and photograph samples of the key organs needed for identification, do not hesitate contacting GIT Forestry Consulting.

Eucalyptus species identification: Contact GIT Forestry Consulting / Identificación de especies de eucalipto: Contacte a GIT Forestry Consulting / Eucalyptologics: Information Resources on Eucalyptus Cultivation Around the World
If you are in the USA and find it easier to post fresh samples to a local expert, you can also contact Dr. Matt Ritter, resident eucalypt hunter at the California Polytechnic State University.

Cal Poly Plant Conservatory / Giant Karri Eucalyptus diversicolor discovered by Matt Ritter at Cal Poly Canyon, San Luis Obispo, California, USA / Ejemplar gigante de Eucalipto Karri cazado por Matt Ritter en el rancho de Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California / GIT Forestry Consulting, Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Lugo, Galicia, España, SpainVisit Cal Poly Plant Conservatory


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© 2008 Gustavo Iglesias Trabado. Please contact us if you want to use all or part of this text and photography elsewhere. We like to share, but we do not like rudeness.


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