Towering Tereticornis

There are a number of magnificent specimens of Eucalyptus tereticornis on the property.

Eucalyptus tereticornis is also known as                                                                                              the Forest Red Gum or (confusingly) the Queensland Blue Gum.                                                      There are many Eu. tereticornis lining Moggill Rd and in the dry forest areas of the                     Pullen Pullen Catchment and the Moggill Creek Catchment.

They also stand watch over the river as they line the banks of the Moggill Pocket.

We think of them as the guardians of the riverbank, especially as they proved to be a mainstay to the riverbank, including two gullies leading down to the river, during the 2011 flood.

THE VALUE OF EUCALYPTUS TERETICORNIS

During the flood only one tereticornis was lost which had already been on a 30 degree angle and had been a signpost to our property when crossing on the Moggill Ferry. It may have been compromised during the 1974 flood as the base of its trunk was close to the waterline.

After the 2011 flood some amazing views of tereticornis roots were revealed only to show how extensive and deep the rest of their root system must be in order to anchor their towering tops during high wind. Not all the erosion could have happened in this last flood as some of the roots had an old dead appearance.

Regardless of when the erosion occurred, the enormous loss of soil that is now evident means that perhaps there will never be a way of restoring the bank to its former dimensions. However there are many measures that we are taking to mitigate against further loss.

We have had a campaign to plant many more tereticornis in places that are vulnerable to more soil erosion along the riverbanks.

The leaves of the seedling appear to be quite big (in relation to the size of the new plant) as compared to the thin leaves of the mature Eucalyptus tereticornis. One day, hopefully, it too will become another giant guardian along the river.

THE BEAUTY OF EUCALYPTUS TERETICORNIS

We have various tereticornis in all stages of growth around the property – seedlings, immature, mature…

and tallest of them all, an amazing ‘Granddaddy Tereticornis’.

The age of the tree can only be wondered about given the girth of its trunk.

The Eu. tereticornis has distinctive long, thin, limp grey-green leaves that create a look of minimal exertion in the shimmering heat.

From a distance the branches appear as grey-white arms reaching to the sky…

but up close the bark on the trunk can be like an artist’s palette of greys, browns, whites, creams and greens.

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