Corymbia bella

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Ghost gum
Corymbia bella.jpg
Corymbia bella in Katherine
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Corymbia
Species:
C. bella
Binomial name
Corymbia bella
Synonyms [1]

Eucalyptus bellaBrooker

Uprooted C. bella from Cyclone Helen 2008 Cyclone Helen 3967.jpg
Uprooted C. bella from Cyclone Helen 2008
Sections of trunk Cyclone Helen 3966.jpg
Sections of trunk

Corymbia bella, commonly known as ghost gum, [2] weeping ghost gum, [3] or paper-fruited bloodwood, [4] is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has smooth, powdery, white to pale grey bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, creamy white flowers and cup-shaped, barrel-shaped or urn-shaped fruit.

Contents

Description

Corymbia bella typically grows to a height of 6 to 20 metres (20 to 66 ft), sometimes as tall as 30 metres (98 ft), and forms a lignotuber. It has smooth, powdery, white to pale grey bark that is shed in thin scales, occasionally with a small amount of thin, rough bark at the base. The branchlets are smooth and lack oil glands in the pith. Young plants and coppice regrowth have dull green, elliptical to lance-shaped leaves that are 65–110 mm (2.6–4.3 in) long and 17–30 mm (0.67–1.18 in) wide and petiolate. Adult leaves are mostly arranged alternately, occasionally in pairs, wavy, the same shade of green to slightly grey-green on both sides, lance-shaped, narrow lance-shaped or curved, 70–230 mm (2.8–9.1 in) long and 6–25 mm (0.24–0.98 in) wide, tapering to a petiole 5–21 mm (0.20–0.83 in) long. The flower buds are mostly arranged in leaf axils on a branched peduncle 1–9 mm (0.039–0.354 in) long, each branch with three buds on pedicels 1–5 mm (0.039–0.197 in) long. Mature buds are pear-shaped, 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide with a rounded operculum. Flowering occurs between September and January and the flowers are creamy white. The fruit is woody cup-shaped, barrel-shaped or urn-shaped capsule 8–11 mm (0.31–0.43 in) long and 6–11 mm (0.24–0.43 in) wide with the valves enclosed in the fruit. The capsules are present on the tree in most months. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Taxonomy and naming

Corymbia bella was first formally described in 1995 by Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson from specimens collected 64.5 km (40.1 mi) north of Larrimah in 1998. [7] [8] The specific epithet (bella) is from the Latin word bellus meaning "beautiful", referring to the tree as a whole. [5]

Distribution and habitat

The range of C. bella extends from the Kimberley region of Western Australia across the Northern Territory and northern part of Queensland. It is common in monsoonal areas as far west as Broome and then along the Mitchell Plateau through to Kununurra and Derby. It is then spread across the top end of the Northern Territory from Top Springs to Pine Creek north to Darwin and spreading around the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is then found east from the border from Doomadgee to Cloncurry and Croydon and in the south west of the Cape York Peninsula as far as the lower part of the Mitchell River. [5] [4]

The tree prefers alluvial soils along low lying seasonally wet areas such as flood plains where it comprises part of the woodlands found in these locations. It is also commonly found along creek levees and the edge of swamps and lakes amongst melaleucas and also makes up part of savanah woodland at low point of the plains. [5] [4]

Response to fire

The tree is able form seeds after about 11 years. Following fire it will have an epicormic response and resprout shortly afterward. If the fire scorches all of the leaves the trees have a mortality rate of less than 30%. [9] [10]

Use in horticulture

The tree is easily cultivated from seed and grows well in colder climates despite its origins. It is adaptable to most dry or moist well-drained soils in a sunny position and is regarded as hardy, drought and frost tolerant. Although seed can be planted at most times of the year in Australia it is best sown in spring or autumn in temperate climates. The optimum germination temperature for germination is around 18 to 22 °C (64 to 72 °F). [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Corymbia aparrerinja</i> Species of plant

Corymbia aparrerinja, commonly known as ghost gum, is a species of tree that is endemic to Central Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to cylindrical fruit.

<i>Corymbia dallachiana</i> Species of plant

Corymbia dallachiana commonly known as Dallachy's ghost gum or Dallachy's gum, is a species of tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of three, white flowers and cup-shaped, cylindrical or barrel-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia opaca</i> Species of plant

Corymbia opaca, also known as desert bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has rough bark on part or all of the trunk, lance-shaped leaves, club-shaped flower buds and urn-shaped fruit. Several parts of this plant are used by Aboriginal Australians in traditional medicine.

<i>Corymbia terminalis</i> Species of plant

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<i>Corymbia papuana</i> Species of plant

Corymbia papuana, commonly known as ghost gum, is a species of evergreen tree native to New Guinea, some Torres Strait Islands and the northern part of the Cape York Peninsula in Australia. It has smooth whitish bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, creamy white flowers and barrel-shaped or urn-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia flavescens</i> Species of plant

Corymbia flavescens, commonly known as cabbage ghost gum, bastard ghost gum, scraggy cabbage gum, or wrinkle-leaf ghost gum, is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has smooth powdery bark, egg-shaped to lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and variably-shaped fruit. The Jaru peoples know it as warlarri.

<i>Corymbia aspera</i> Species of plant

Corymbia aspera, commonly known as rough-leaved ghost gum, rough leaf range gum, desert bloodwood, Brittle Range gum in Western Australia, or snappy gum in the Northern Territory is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has smooth white bark, sometimes with a short stocking of rough bark near the base, a crown of sessile juvenile, heart-shaped or egg-shaped leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and cup-shaped, barrel-shaped or cylindrical fruit.

<i>Corymbia blakei</i> Species of plant

Corymbia blakei, commonly known as ghost gum, is a species of tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has smooth bark, sometimes with a stocking of rough bark on older specimens, linear to narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of three, creamy white flowers and barrel-shaped, cup-shaped or cylindrical fruit.

Corymbia dendromerinx, commonly known as ghost gum, is a species of tree that is endemic to the south-western Kimberley region of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, sometimes with a stocking of rough bark near the base, a crown of variably-shaped leaves, flower buds mostly in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and barrel-shaped, cylindrical or cup-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia dichromophloia</i> Species of plant

Corymbia dichromophloia, commonly known as small-fruited bloodwood, variably-barked bloodwood or gum-topped bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has smooth white bark sometimes with flaky bark on the trunk, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia eremaea</i> Species of plant

Corymbia eremaea, commonly known as mallee bloodwood, hill bloodwood and Centre Range bloodwood, is a small, mallee-like tree that is endemic to central Australia. Indigenous Australians know the plant as muur-muurpa. It has rough, evenly tessellated bark, lance-shaped leaves, oval to pear-shaped flower buds arranged on a branching peduncle and urn-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia erythrophloia</i> Species of plant

Corymbia erythrophloia, commonly known as red bloodwood, variable-barked bloodwood, red-barked bloodwood or gum-topped bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has rough bark on the trunk and branches, egg-shaped or lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped to spherical fruit.

<i>Corymbia ferriticola</i> Species of plant

Corymbia ferriticola, commonly known as Pilbara ghost gum, is a species of tree or a mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and shortened spherical to cylindrical fruit.

<i>Corymbia foelscheana</i> Species of plant

Corymbia foelscheana, commonly known as broad-leaved bloodwood, fan-leaved bloodwood or smooth-barked bloodwood, is a species of small tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has thin, rough, tessellated bark on some or all of the trunk, smooth bark above, broadly egg-shaped to broadly lance- shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia grandifolia</i> Species of plant

Corymbia grandifolia, commonly known as cabbage gum, large-leaved cabbage gum and paper-fruited bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has smooth bark, egg-shaped to broadly elliptic to lance-shaped adult leaves, flowers buds in groups of three or seven, creamy white flowers and cup-shaped to cylindrical fruit.

Corymbia arafurica is a species of tree that is endemic to the Northern Territory. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, creamy white flowers and cylindrical to barrel-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia jacobsiana</i> Species of plant

Corymbia jacobsiana, commonly known as Jacob's bloodwood or stringybark bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to the Northern Territory. It has rough, stringy bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped to elliptical or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia kombolgiensis</i> Species of plant

Corymbia kombolgiensis, commonly known as scarp gum or paper-fruited bloodwood, is a species of small tree that is endemic to the Northern Territory. It has smooth bark, sometimes with rough, tessellated bark near the base, linear to narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of seven, white flowers and cylindrical to barrel-shaped fruit.

Corymbia paractia, commonly known as Cable Beach ghost gum, is a species of low-growing tree that is endemic to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It has smooth white to pale grey bark, sometimes with rough bark near the base of the trunk, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, creamy white flowers and cup-shaped, barrel-shaped or cylindrical fruit.

Corymbia polysciada, commonly known as apple gum, paper-fruited bloodwood or bolomin, is a species of tree that is endemic to the Top End of the Northern Territory. It has rough, tessellated bark on some or all or the trunk, smooth bark above, egg-shaped to broadly lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and cup-shaped, cylindrical or barrel-shaped from on long pedicels.

References

  1. 1 2 "Corymbia bella". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Corymbia bella syn. Eucalyptus bella". Australian Seed. 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "Corymbia bella K. D. Hill &. L. A. S. Johnson Weeping Ghost Gum". Discover Life. The Polistes Corporation. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Corymbia bella K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson". NT Flora. Northern Territory Government . Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Corymbia bella". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "Corymbia bella". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  7. 1 2 Hill, Kenneth D.; Johnson, Lawrence A.S. (13 December 1995). "Systematic studies in the eucalypts. 7. A revision of the bloodwoods, genus Corymbia (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 6 (2–3): 411–413. doi: 10.7751/telopea19953017 .
  8. ↑ "Corymbia bella". APNI. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  9. ↑ "Corymbia bella". Eucalink. Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  10. ↑ "Fire responses of Corymbia bella". Northern Land Manager. 2016. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
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