The River Red Gum Tree (Eucalyptus Camaldulensis)
The River Red Gum is a tree that can grow up to 45m tall but usually grows to 20-35m tall. The tree has smooth bark that ranges in colour from yellow, white and grey and the leaves of the tree are a dull green or blue-grey colour. The tree can be found in other places around the world however the River Red Gum is a native to Australia and can also be called the Murray Red Gum due to its association of lining the banks of the Murray River.
Environment
The River Red Gum is the most widespread member of all of the Eucalyptus Trees and is also the most common tree found along Australian waterways. Rarely you will see a River Red not near water of some form. The largest River Red forest occurs on both sides of the Murray River, which will be the main focus for environment. The Murray River acts as a border between Victoria and New South Wales and ends it’s journey in South Australia; the River Red Gum can be found lining the Murray River for most of its length.
The environment is a temperate semi-arid region. The Barmah National Park, which is primarily a river red forest in Victoria that is along the Murray River, has an average maximum temperature of 30C in January and minimum temperature of 4C in July. However, temperatures can reach as high as 50C during an Australian heat wave in summer, in some places along the river. Average rainfall in the Barmah is 400mm but in other places along the river, rainfall can be even less which effects how the River Red acts during a drought. In recent years, the Murray River area has seen an increase in salinity –due to drought depleting water supply–which effects the water quality that the River Red Gum Trees need. |
River Red Gum at Barmah National Park alongside the Murray River
http://barmahwetlands.weebly.com/river-red-gum-forest.html |
Challenges
Australia is a continent where the weather and the environment can change rapidly; it can be a full drought one year and it can be flooding the next. The Murray River area, where the largest River Red Gum forest is located, is particularly susceptible to these changes.
As a result, the challenges that the River Red Gum faces are droughts, fires and flooding. The River Red Gum needs regularly water to propagate and survive however too much water during a flood will result in the tree drowning and not having at least a partial flood during a drought will result in no new trees being germinated. The River Red's will drown after more than 3 years under water (the tree is in the river rather than on the banks) but will also die after 5 years with no access to water (water level has receded).
The tree is also vulnerable to fire and even low intensity fires can cause injury. The fire kills regeneration in River Red gums.
As a result, the challenges that the River Red Gum faces are droughts, fires and flooding. The River Red Gum needs regularly water to propagate and survive however too much water during a flood will result in the tree drowning and not having at least a partial flood during a drought will result in no new trees being germinated. The River Red's will drown after more than 3 years under water (the tree is in the river rather than on the banks) but will also die after 5 years with no access to water (water level has receded).
The tree is also vulnerable to fire and even low intensity fires can cause injury. The fire kills regeneration in River Red gums.
Adaptations
River Red Gums drop leaves or limbs to conserve water
http://jennifermarohasy.com/2008/02/dead-river-red-gums-part-ii/ |
During a drought, the River Red Gums can drop their leaves and even some of their limbs. The tree does this to conserve water for photosynthesis and therefore conserve energy until suitable amounts of water are available.
The River Red Gum has a deep root system, growing down towards an underground water supply, to be able to extract water for photosynthesis when water above ground becomes limited. During spring, River Red Gums will drop large numbers of seeds to coincide with flood season –if they occur –to germinate new trees. If a partial flooding occurs, these seeds will be washed to higher ground to germinate and begin to grow. |
Interesting Fact
The Aborigines used the River Red Gums for medicine. They used to crush and boil the young leaves to make a linament that could be used for chest or joint pain. The vapours of the leaves can also be inhaled to treat sickness.