Eucalyptus ficifolia
| Red flowering gum | |
|---|---|
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| Red flowering gum in flower. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Corymbia |
| Species: | C. ficifolia |
| Binomial name | |
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Corymbia ficifolia (F.Muell.) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson |
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Corymbia ficifolia, commonly known as the red flowering gum, Albany red flowering gum and the Albany redgum, (previously known as Eucalyptus ficifolia) is one of the most commonly planted ornamental trees in the broader eucalyptus family.
In 2009, Parra-O and colleagues published a combined analysis of nuclear rDNA (ETS + ITS) and morphological characters published to clarify relationships within the genus Corymbia. C. ficifolia was shown to comprise a natural group with two other Western Australian species C. calophylla and C. haematoxylon. They classified the group as section Calophyllae within the subgenus Corymbia.
The tree typically grows to a height of 2 to 10 metres (7 to 33 ft) but can reach up to 15 m (49 ft) with a width of 5 to 20 m (16 to 66 ft). The tree can have a straggly habit. The bark of the tree is rough, short-fibred, longitudinally furrowed and a brown grey colour. The leaves are thick, dull green and with a prominent mid-rib. The flowers are brilliant red colour and the gum nuts are large, woody and urn-shaped.
It is native to a very small area of south coastal Western Australia (measured in just tens of kilometres) to the east of Walpole (430 km Southeast of Perth), but is not considered under threat in the wild. Also found around Albany and in the Stirling Range. It grows well in sandy or loamy soils even those containing gravel and is often found on flats and on hillslopes.
In nature Corymbia ficifolia prefers infertile, sandy soils but it is readily adaptable to most temperate locations, provided it is not exposed to severe frost or sustained tropical damp. It is an ideal street tree as it is hardy, moderately fast growing, and rarely grows large enough to require pruning. The largest known single-stemmed tree of this species in the world (216.5 cm diameter) is located on Princes Street in Hamilton, New Zealand. Because of its big and lovely colourful flowers, genetic improvement for cold resistance in Dublin area in Ireland is being carried out by collecting seeds from Western and Southern Australia in the coldest parts of Australia where it grows. In Ireland most of the plants were killed by severe frosts but the surviving shoots have been kept by tissue culture.
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Wikipedia