Ash Eucalyptus

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Video: Ash Eucalyptus

Video: Ash Eucalyptus
Video: climbing the biggest eucalypt in the world 2024, May
Ash Eucalyptus
Ash Eucalyptus
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Ash eucalyptus (lat. Eucalyptus cinerea) - a small or medium-sized evergreen tree of the genus Eucalyptus (Latin Eucalyptus), included by botanists in the Myrtaceae family (Latin Myrtaceae). This species is characterized by grayish-blue leaves and traditional eucalyptus inflorescences of white stamens, covered with a "cap" of accrete sepals. The tree is very decorative and has an attractive quality for Russians - it can withstand frosts down to minus 13 degrees.

What's in your name

The generic name is based on the Greek language, more precisely, on two Greek words that eventually gave birth to the Latin word "Eucalyptus", meaning "well covered." And the inflorescences, consisting of graceful and fragile numerous stamens, are "well covered" in the plant. The stamen is covered with a "cap" formed by nature by splicing sepals, and sometimes, along the way, grabbed petals. As a result, the inflorescence loses its petals, delighting the world with multi-colored fluffy stamens.

The specific name "cinerea" (ashy) is explained by the color of the leaves, which seem to be sprinkled with grayish ash, which is why they turn into dull grayish-blue broad-lanceolate plates.

Ash Eucalyptus has many popular names that highlight its peculiar small details that distinguish the tree from other species of the genus. For its oval blue-gray leaves, Ash Eucalyptus is called the "Silver dollar tree". For ashy plaque on the leaves - "Mealy stringbark" ("Mealy fibrous eucalyptus") or "Silver-leaf stringbark" ("Silver-leaf fibrous eucalyptus").

Description

Ash eucalyptus comes from Australia. Due to its winter hardiness, it is popular as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, in particular, in the glorious Russian city of Sochi.

Ash eucalyptus is a short to medium-sized tree with a rough, coarse fibrous bark that covers large branches and tree trunk. The reddish brown or gray-brown color of the bark becomes creamy white when it comes to the terminal and small branches of the tree covered with smooth bark.

Bright-gray almost rounded young leaves, as a rule, sessile, or acquired short petioles. Growing up, they either simply increase in size, or can change their shape to lanceolate, from narrow-lanceolate to wide-lanceolate. The color of the leaf plate also changes, becoming more bluish from a wax coating.

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In the axils of the leaves, short peduncles are born, crowned with three white inflorescences with numerous graceful stamens, protected by a conical cap made of accrete sepals. The flowering time depends on the place of growth.

The inflorescences are replaced by pear-shaped or spherical fruits.

Usage

Silvery leaves of the original shape, beautifully arranged on the branches of the tree, make Ash Eucalyptus attractive for decorating gardens and parks. In addition, like other plant species of the genus Eucalyptus, in the first years of life, Ash Eucalyptus quickly increases the height of its straight trunk, delighting the gardener.

The downside for growing an ornamental tree in the Russian climate is its relative frost resistance. The tree can tolerate sub-zero temperatures, not exceeding 12 degrees. At lower temperatures, the tree will unfortunately die. Especially loyal fans of the beauty of Ash Eucalyptus grow the tree as a houseplant, providing it with large containers for successful development.

At home, they use for handicrafts the reddish wood of Ash Eucalyptus, which is not inferior in quality to the wood of the mighty Oak.

The beautiful leaves contain an essential oil that can be used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes.

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