Another example of the significant trees in Bellbird Corner Riverside Reserve is this Red Gum photographed on a grey winter’s day.

As has probably been mentioned previously, the Red Gums in the reserve are mainly Gippsland Red Gums, E. tereticornis sub-species mediana, plus a sprinkling of trees that show hints of River Red Gum, E. camaldulensis in the buds. The area is of course where the two species merge, leading to interbreeding. Buds collected beneath this tree however are classic camaldulensis, and the appearance of the tree seems to bear that out. It is massive, with a trunk circumference at chest height of 5.1 metres. About three metres above the ground the trunk gives way to a number of huge limbs climbing skyward.

Here are two more views of the other side of the tree showing the scale of these limbs. It appears too that inosculation has taken place, with limbs growing together as they have increased in size. A magnificent tree, long may it continue to thrive.

 

As well as the new trees in Bellbird Corner Reserve there are some fine old trees, one of which is a Manna Gum, Eucalyptus viminalis, growing beside the old road, and what a survivor it is. The first photo shows it in April 2005 with the upper story quite dead, but otherwise still very healthy.

Three years later, in April 2008, possibly in response to wind, most of the top story and part of the canopy came to earth.

This mighty old tree merely shrugged this calamity off and got on with living and growing. Sixteen years later, here is the trunk showing some of that growth.

Here is the trunk from the other side, measuring 7.5 metres circumference at chest height.

And here’s the tree standing proudly today, measuring twenty six metres tall.