CHINCHILLA WHITE GUM
Eucalyptus argophloia
Plant Family
Myrtaceae
Alternative Common Names
western white gum, Queensland western white gum, Queensland white gum, scrub gum, lapunyah, burncluith gum.
A tree that grows to a height of 18 to 30 metres with bark that is white but dappled with grey and brown and sheds in long ribbons. It produces deep red timber, which is strong hard and durable.
Leaves - lance-shaped, 65 to 140 millimetres long, 8 to 20 millimetres wide, and are the same glossy green on both sides.
Flowers - buds are arranged in groups of seven in leaf axils on a peduncle 5 to 10 millimetres long, the individual buds on a pedicel 1 to 4 millimetres long. Mature buds are oval to more or less spherical, 4 to 6 millimetres long and 3 to 4 millimetres wide with a rounded operculum. Flowers are white.
Fruit - a woody, hemispherical to cup-shaped capsule, 3 to 5 millimetres long and 5 to 7 millimetres wide.
Flowering May – June.
Habitat
Grows in brown to black clay or clay-loam soils. Often found in association with brigalow or Eucalyptus microcarpa on flat terrain in areas that were once open forest.
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