Desert Gum (LA Urban Forest Program)

Desert Gum

Eucalyptus rudis

Summary ⁷

Eucalyptus rudis, Flooded gum, is a medium sized tree with rough, dark and light grey bark, however north of Perth it intergrades with Eucalyptus camaldulensis var. obtusa so the bark may be smooth and very similar to Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Leaves are stalked, alternate, ovate to orbicular 12 x 7 cm, slightly discolourous and dull grey-green. White flowers appear in winter to late spring.

Description ⁸

Trees, 9-15 m tall. Bark on trunk and larger branches blackish, rough, persistent but gray; bark on smaller branches smooth, exfoliating. Branchlets glossy. Young leaves 4 pairs, opposite; leaf blade broadly lanceolate to ovate. Mature leaves alternate; petiole 1.5-3 cm; leaf blade narrowly lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, 10-15 × 1-2 cm or wider, secondary veins conspicuous and at an angle of 55°-60° from midvein, intramarginal veins 1-1.5 mm from margin. Inflorescences axillary, simple, umbels 4-10-flowered; peduncle 1-2.5 cm, terete. Flower buds ovoid, 9-11 mm. Hypanthium obconic, 3-4 mm; stipe 3-5 mm; calyptra 5-7 mm, slightly longer than hypanthium, apex acute. Stamens 5-8 mm; filaments slender; anthers ovoid, dorsifixed, dehiscing longitudinally, glands small. Capsule bowl-shaped to obconic, 4-6 × 6-9 mm; disk broad; valves 4, exserted from hypanthium. Fl. winter.