GUM+TREES

**// The Eucalyptus //** is a flowering tree. There are more than 700 species of //Eucalyptus. //  Eucalyptus trees are known as **gum trees** because many species have sap from any break in the bark The name //eucalyptus// comes from the Greek: meaning "well covered". A Eucalyptus may be a low shrub or a very large tree. There are three main types of gum and four sizes of trees. Many gum trees have a long, straight trunk, completely rough-barked.
 * Gum Trees ** [[image:gumtree_2.jpg width="106" height="162"]] [[image:gum_tree.jpg]]
 * (Also known as Eucalyptus Trees) **
 * //What Type of Plant Is It? //**
 * //What Does It Look Like? (Appearance) //**
 * __Size and Type __**
 * Forest ** **gum trees** are single-stemmed and have a crown that forms part of the whole tree height. **Woodland gum trees** are single-stemmed although they may branch at a short distance above ground level.
 * [|Mallees] ** are multi-stemmed from ground level, usually less than 10 metres (33 ft) in height. They often have a crown at the ends of the branchlets. Individual plants may combine to form either an open or closed formation. Many mallee trees may be so low-growing as to be considered a __ [|shrub] __.

Nearly all Eucalyptus trees are ** [|evergreen] ** but some tropical species lose their leaves at the end of the dry season. Eucalyptus or gum leaves are covered with oil glands. The leaves on a mature (fully grown) Eucalyptus /Gum plant are waxy or glossy green. In contrast, the leaves of seedlings are often smooth or dull green. A few species of gum trees, have shiny green leaves throughout their life cycle. In most gum trees, the leaves form in pairs on opposite sides of a square stem. The most recognisable characteristics of //Eucalyptus // species are the distinctive flowers and fruit (capsules or "gumnuts"). Flowers have numerous fluffy stamens which may be white, cream, yellow, pink or red; in bud, the stamens are enclosed in a cap, which is composed of the fused petals. The flowers have no petals, but instead decorate themselves with the many showy stamens. The woody fruits or capsules are roughly cone-shaped and have valves at the end which open to release the seeds. Most species do not flower until the tree is an adult. //Gum Trees //**, **<span style="font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> or Eucalypts, are mostly native to Australia, and a very small number are found in parts of New Guinea and Indonesia and one as far north as the Philippines islands. They are found mostly in the Australian bush. Only 15 species occur outside Australia, and only 9 do not occur in Australia. The Australian bush is beautiful, but it can be a dangerous place in Summer time. Gum Trees can catch fire quite easily. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Like all plants, a Gum Tree or Eucalyptus Tree needs water, soil and sunshine to survive. The tree begins as a seed, germinates and grows into a seedling and finally matures into a tree. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; msoansilanguage: EN; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msolist: Ignore;">1. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Mature gum trees produce flowers. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; msoansilanguage: EN; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msolist: Ignore;">2. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Pollen is released from the male parts of the flower (the stamens). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; msoansilanguage: EN; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msolist: Ignore;">3. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Pollen attaches to the female parts (the stigma). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; msoansilanguage: EN; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msolist: Ignore;">4. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The flower loses its stamens and a dry woody fruit forms. The fruit contains developing seeds. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; msoansilanguage: EN; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msolist: Ignore;">5. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">When the seeds are mature, the fruit opens and the tiny seeds are released. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; msoansilanguage: EN; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msolist: Ignore;">6. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Most seeds fall to the ground. The seeds which reach the soil and have proper growing conditions germinate. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; msoansilanguage: EN; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msolist: Ignore;">7. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The germinated seeds develop into seedlings. Over time, the seedlings grow into a mature tree and the cycle begins again. **// What Are the Uses? //****// (What do people and animals use it for?) //** <span style="font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Eucalyptus or Gum Trees are a fast-growing source of wood. Humans can use the bark or wood from a gum tree. Its oil can be used for cleaning and is a natural insecticide. It is sometimes used to drain swamps and reduce the risk of malaria. An [|essential oil] extracted from Eucalyptus /Gum leaves is a natural disinfectant and can be toxic in large quantities. Gum Trees are a habitat for the koala. The koalas eat the leaves of the gum tree. Several marsupials, for example some [|possums], are relatively tolerant of it. Koalas eat the leaves of the gum tree, they make their food choices by smelling of the leaves. <span style="font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Eucalyptus flowers produce a great large amount of [|nectar], providing food for many [|insects] , birds, [|bats] and [|possums]. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Leaves[[image:gumtree_3.jpg width="72" height="109"]] [[image:gumtree_4.jpg width="91" height="122"]] [[image:gum_tree.jpg]] **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Flowers **
 * // Where Is It Found? (Environment) //**
 * // What Are The Lifecycle and Needs of the Plant? //**
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