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Swamp Mahogany

6/15/2015

1 Comment

 
Scientific name: Eucalyptus robusta

This Eucalypt is big and robust (hence it’s scientific name) tree with thick red bark that often peels away from the trunk in long strips. It is a Eucalypt and favours coastal areas including the fringes of the Hays Inlet wetlands. It is an important tree for coastal koalas as it can tolerate some levels of inundation and so is often found around the border between Melaleuca swamp and Eucalypt forest.

The tree can grow to a height of 30 meters with a straight trunk which can up to a meter in diameter. The wood from this tree is highly resistant to marine borers making it a valuable commodity for boat builders. The tree has been exported and is now grown in Argentina, China, Mozambique and the USA.

It has large leathery green leaves which form a major part of koala’s diet. The tree flowers in autumn through to spring providing a valuable source of nectar for grey-headed flying foxes and a number of species of bird including honeyeaters and lorikeets. The tree provides a significant habitat for a numerous insects which also attract the attention of insectivores including birds.

1 Comment
Pete Johnson
6/15/2015 01:22:22 pm

Stunning tree. Let's get some more of those into the ground in Redcliffe!

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    Bob Crudgington and Chris Joyce

    Redcliffe Environmental Forum Inc

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