| Corymbia aparrerinja | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Corymbia |
| Species: | C. aparrerinja |
| Binomial name | |
| Corymbia aparrerinja | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Corymbia aparrerinja, commonly known asghost gum,[2] is a species of tree that isendemic toCentral Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to cylindrical fruit.
Corymbia aparrerinja is a tree that typically grows to a height of 20 m (66 ft), often much less, and forms alignotuber. It has smooth, sometimes powdery, white to cream-coloured and pinkish bark that is shed in thin patches. Young plants andcoppice regrowth have egg-shaped leaves that are 50–155 mm (2.0–6.1 in) long, 20–65 mm (0.8–2.6 in) wide and arranged in opposite pairs. Adult leaves are arranged alternately, the same shade of glossy green on both sides, lance-shaped or curved, 50–165 mm (2.0–6.5 in) long and 7–32 mm (0.3–1.3 in) wide tapering to apetiole 5–20 mm (0.2–0.8 in) long. The flower buds are arranged on the ends of branchlets on a branchedpeduncle 5–38 mm (0.2–1.5 in) long, each branch with groups of three or seven buds, the individual buds onpedicels 2–5 mm (0.08–0.20 in) long. Mature buds are oval to pear-shaped, 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide with a roundedoperculum. Flowering occurs in summer and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody cup-shaped to more or less cylindricalcapsule 9–13 mm (0.35–0.51 in) long and 7–9 mm (0.28–0.35 in) wide with the valves near rim level or enclosed.[2][3]
Corymbia aparrerinja was first formally described in 1995 byKen Hill andLawrie Johnson from specimens collected onGosses Bluff byHerbert Basedow in 1925.[4] The same specimens were used byWilliam Blakely to describe (in English),Eucalyptus papuanaF.Muell. var.aparrerinja, but did not provide aLatin diagnosis ('description'), so the name was not validly published.[3][5]
Ghost gum occurs in arid areas of Central Australia on rocky slopes, red sand flats and dry creek beds. It is found from nearGiles in Western Australia, through the south of the Northern Territory as far north asTennant Creek to nearMount Isa andBarcaldine in Queensland.[2][6]
Parts of this tree were used byIndigenous Australians to treat colds.[7][page needed]
In 1891 inBarcaldine, a ghost gum known as theTree of Knowledge was the focal point of a gathering of striking sheep shearers, a key event leading to the formation of theAustralian Labor Party.[8]
This species of tree features inaboriginalDreamtime stories and gained prominence with the wider public in the 20th century through the paintings of aboriginal artistAlbert Namatjira.[6]