Moreton Bay ash (Corymbia tessellaris)
Description
Corymbia tessellaris (syn. Eucalyptus tessellaris), the carbeen, Moreton Bay ash, black butt, is a Ghost gum tree ranging from small to 35 m. tall, forming a lignotuber. Bark rough on lower 1–4 m of trunk, tessellated, dark grey to black, abruptly changing to white-cream smooth bark above that is sometimes powdery. Name from Latin: tessellaris - tessellated, referring to the rough bark in small squares. Noted for its distinctive stocking of tessellated or "crocodile scale" bark over the lower part of the trunk abruptly changing to smooth white above. It has a compound axillary inflorescences with an expanded rhachis, thin-walled fruit and a crown of fully adult lanceolate smooth leaves about 15 cm long and 1 cm wide.[2] The trunk is almost always straight making up a half to two thirds of the total tree height, with a crown of slender branches with pendulous smaller branchlets. Fruit 8–11 mm long, 6–8 mm diameter, cylindrical or ovoid (occasionally somewhat urceolate), more or less striate; disc depressed; valves enclosed. Withstands strong winds, heat and drought and tolerates a moderate amount of salt spray. Propagates from seed. Flowering midwinter to early summer. The wood is heavy and has been used for bridge construction and making spears. The tree produces many organic compounds with industrial potential including pinenes, aromadendrene, limonene and globulol.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Myrtales
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Family: Myrtaceae
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Genus: Corymbia
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