Australian Spinning Gum Useful Ornamental Tree

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32233, 27 February 1970, Page 9

Australian Spinning Gum Useful Ornamental Tree

There are several species of Eucalyptus trees which possess glaucous or silvery coliage, but the spinning turn. Eucalyptus perriniana, s one of the few which reams the colour throughout its life. This tree, which is regarded as a mallee because it is nclined to grow shrubby rather than tall and upright, ittaining a height of between Oft and 30ft. is a most worthwhile ornamental. Although not particularly widespread in its native habitats of Tasmania, N.S.W., and Victoria,

Lit is* nevertheless readily i obtainable from nurseries. ■ Like all gums this tree has ; two distinct kinds of leaves , Those that are first produced • are known as juvenile foliage, t and are round, completely surrounding the woody stem, jin actual fact these are really ; two leaves , whose bases have fused together. These leaves , are thin, intensely silvery i and extremely ornamental. Change In Leaves i As the tree ages the leaves begin to change their shape. • At first they become oval but still surround the stem. When

they eventually separate they are at first stalkless, But as new pairs of leaves develop there is a gradual transition to leaves with stalks. Initially these are opposite but later become alternate. At the same time the leaf is changing its Shape, texture and colour. When the transi tion is complete the leaves are thick, narrowly oval, pointed and greyish green—these are the adult leaves The .differing forms between the' juvenile and adult form

are known as intermediates.

The length of time the tree remains’ in its juvenile state varies from several months to many years and. it is not upknown for sane 1 forms to remain in the juvenile state all their lives. It is interesting to note, here that trees raised from Tasmanian shed make smaller specimens and retain their juvenile foliage for much longer than the mainland forms As yet no explanation has been given here as to why this eucalypt is called spinning glim; The reason is that as the leaves, surround the stem there is no leaf stem tp become detached when the leaf dies.. So what happens? As the leaf perishes it gradu ally breaks away around the stem and then slides down to its base. Eventually a collar of dead leaves build, up where the thinner branches join the main ones and when the wind catches these leaves they rise up the stem• and spin madly round it. From this the common name was derived. Apart from its attractive foliage, the tree has smooth white bark and produces an abundance of not overly conspicuous small white flowers in summer. As the foliage is useful for decorative purposes and all gum trees are responsive and tolerant of band pruning there should be no qualms about cutting stems off. This is also a good way of keeping this or any other of the species within bounds and thereby also inducing further juvenile foliage. The best month to prune hard is during September. Small sturdy specimens which are not pot bound are the beat for planting out. It flowers .out profusely between, January and March.