Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Jan 14, 2011 12:23 pm Hello again guess the gummers! (**hmm, might need to rethink that opening sentence** ) It's another tall one, where I can't reach the lowest branches to get any leave, seed or nut samples, I'm afraid. And this one is growing between 2 others, which appear to be different species based on bark, trunk and canopy formation, so I can't just pick something up off the ground I do have lots of pics, including some very wet foaming tree ones, so here goes! So, it's the middle one of these 3: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The bark is rough and fibrous, mostly reddy brown, and does extend to the branches. It does not peel off in big strips. When it does peel off, the wood underneath is pale. This tree leaks kino all year round and you can see this in some of the pics. Initially, I thought this meant it was some sort of bloodwood, but they seem to have different bark? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ In this pic, you can see to the left an area of pale bark. There is no kino leaking on this, so is this the colour it's meant to be? The areas above where the kino leak and on the branches are more reddy brown, though paler than where the kino leaks, than this patch is: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The tree also has some borers. I was concerned about this, but the arborist who was here recently said that they were probably lyctid beetles (size of holes would match that of the powder post beetle) and nothing to worry about. I looked these up and Powder Posts can attack living trees apparently, but only affect the sapwood so don't kill it. They usually only affect damaged trees though. Anyway, we're a little concerned still because of the sawdust around the base of the tree and because when my hubby knocked on the bark, at about the 2.3m, it sounded hollow. Once the rain stops we'll strip back the bark and check for any bullseye damage in case it's a bullseye borer infestation, as that would be about the right height. It would also explain the kino leaking at points over the bottom 4 meters of the trunk. Hope not, as they burrow in the heartwood and eventually kill the tree and I'm sure that the gum to the left has also now been affected by the same borers Here it is foaming: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And a close up of the foam: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Now, the foaming thing I understand is normal to some gums (and other plants) as they exude a compound called saponins. Hence the foaming all over the bark. Quite fascinatingly, these are natural wetting agents that allow better penetration of the water into the soil. However, I've also read that there is a bacterial infection that can affect certain trees, causing them to leak kino and which can cause the foaming when it's raining. No idea how I can tell if the foaming is natural, or as a result of infection, but if there was an infection then this could be the reason for powder post beetle infection I guess...? Anyone any experience of these borers or no anything about the saponin or of any bacterial infections that can affect gums? Re: Name another gum if you can! 2Feb 16, 2011 2:16 pm And again with the bump - far right is a E. radiata, middle one is another E. Obliqua (younger one) and the one on the left is another peppermint, but not indigenous to this area so not sure what. Re: Name another gum if you can! 3Feb 16, 2011 3:35 pm I don't know a lot about the foaming. It could be a gardening australia forum question though. Building with Life$tyle Homes in Perth SOR Key Dates on First Page of my Thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=38761 Re: Name another gum if you can! 4Feb 17, 2011 2:34 pm It's okay Sheznay - definitely the saponins. I'm still learning Hi We have Hybrid Spotted Gum Hp0995 from carpet call. It turned out to be very dark and rough. Is there any polish or product we can use to make it shinier ? 0 9173 Hi, Apologies - I know there is plenty out there on this but struggling to put together the puzzle. We're planning our garage/external laundry to master bedroom and… 0 10922 2 10936 |