Eucalyptus fasiculosa
MYRTACEAE
Pink gum, Hill Gum
Small to medium tree to 15m, often stunted or crooked looking. Bark is smooth white or grey on upper branches with grey, brown rough bark shedding & flaking on lower tree, branchlets & twigs reddish in colour.
Leaves taper at the point & broadest at the base, 2.5 to 14cm long x 1.5 to 3 cm wide. Distinct mid vein. Juvenile leaves are shorter & wider. Cream or white flowers in clusters of 3-7 at terminal ends of branches, 1.5cm across. Flowering through out the year.
Woody capsules, 4-6mm. Pear to cylindrical shaped, peaked caps. E. fasiculosa drops its capsules readily. Releases dark seed amongst brown chaff. Collect seed capsules when ever available, late Summer preferable, storing in warm area to release seed. Best sown in Spring, lightly sprinkled over propagating mix & covered with a light gravel, keep warm & moist.
A popular wood for fence posts, firewood. Very attractive to bees & birds, insects & reptiles. Shady tree suitable for gardens, parks & roadsides. Tolerates sandy, clay, limestone & poor soils. Does not like waterlogged or saline environments