Nothing But a But-But
A but-but tree (or apple box or eucalyptus bridgesiana) on the edge of the town centre of Beechworth, an old gold-mining town in north eastern Victoria, Australia.
An unusual specimen, estimated to be 300 years old. It is thought to be the union of two trees with a central cavity. The heavy galling is a response to human intervention, and possibly so too is the overall shape. A local guide suggested to us that aboriginals might have grafted two trees together, while the galling is at least in part a response to later nailing of steel spikes and horse shoes by europeans.
In my original description I omitted to mention that in 1991 the tree lost some branches after storm damage.
As I've said before, most Australians love their gum trees. This one, though unique in structure, nevertheless has one evocative characteristic of the species -- the openness of the canopy that allows dappled sunlight and shadows of the upper branches to play over the lower parts of the tree.
Nothing But a But-But
A but-but tree (or apple box or eucalyptus bridgesiana) on the edge of the town centre of Beechworth, an old gold-mining town in north eastern Victoria, Australia.
An unusual specimen, estimated to be 300 years old. It is thought to be the union of two trees with a central cavity. The heavy galling is a response to human intervention, and possibly so too is the overall shape. A local guide suggested to us that aboriginals might have grafted two trees together, while the galling is at least in part a response to later nailing of steel spikes and horse shoes by europeans.
In my original description I omitted to mention that in 1991 the tree lost some branches after storm damage.
As I've said before, most Australians love their gum trees. This one, though unique in structure, nevertheless has one evocative characteristic of the species -- the openness of the canopy that allows dappled sunlight and shadows of the upper branches to play over the lower parts of the tree.