Trees
VIEWING OPTIONS: To enlarge images, click on the featured image below. For full-screen images, view in slideshow mode by clicking on the arrow.
For the EXIF, click beneath each photo.
Eucalypt Forest - Wombolano Reserve
Eucalypts are iconic Australian forest trees. Ninety-two million hectares of the Eucalypt forest type occurs in Australia and forms three-quarters of the total native forest area. The term ‘eucalypt’ includes approximately 900 species in the three genera Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora. Almost all eucalypt species are native to Australia. Eucalypts evolved from rainforest ancestors, adapting to an environment in which drought, nutrient-poor soils and fire were increasingly common. Eucalypts have oil-rich foliage that burns readily, and they display a range of strategies to survive and recover from fire. The majority of eucalypt species are evergreen, retaining their leaves year-round.
I have a kind of personal relationship with this tree. Over 50 years ago, I used to practice rock climbing on the cliffs right below this tree. It sits atop granite cliffs some 10 metres high and was often used by rock climbers as an anchor point. I was one of them, that is before I had a serious climbing accident which came very close to killing me. It was kind of like meeting an old friend when I visited this location today. I was pleased to see the tree had matured and seems to be very healthy.
Standing Dead Gums - Wombolano Reserve
Tall silver gums reaching for light under a canopy of green foliage. Perhaps these gums were outdone by their stronger healthier neighbours.
The White Mangrove (Avicennia marina) is the only mangrove species found in Victoria. It also grows in tropical areas as much larger trees. Mangroves have a range of features that allow them to survive on the edge of the sea in the challenging habitat of thick, airless and salty mud. Taken from a slightly different point of view, I look forward to adding a third shot taken at high tide with a sunset. This view looks north-west.
This interesting image shows the way tree roots split apart rock formations. The rock is sedimentary, hence a little soft compared to granite and susceptible to water erosion. The valley bottom is replete with cave-like erosion which needs exploration to determine if North American aboriginal people have used these caves in any way.