Swamp Bloodwood (Corymbia ptychocarpa earlier known as Eucalyptus ptychocarpa)
Swamp Bloodwood (Corymbia ptychocarpa earlier known as Eucalyptus ptychocarpa) is a small to medium sized tree from the family Myrtaceae. It is native to Australia.
Corymbia ptychocarpa grows up to 20m height under ideal conditions. Being a hydrophyte it is found in open forests along streams, rivers and other moist places. The crown is drooping, with pendulous branching, especially when young.
🌷 The trunk is reddish to greyish brown, deeply ridged.
🌷 Leaves are semi-glossy green, leathery, fairly large (up to 30cm by 7cm), with pale yellow midrib. The leaves are aromatic when crushed.
🌷 Attractive deep pink flowers, with powderpuff like appearance bear numerous filamentous stamens. The flowers are produced in umbels of 3-7 flowers, and attract birds and insects.
🌷 Fruits are cylindrical, explosive woody capsules ("gum nuts"), large (4cm by 3cm). Seeds small, with lightweight chaff to aid wind dispersal.
🌷 ETYMOLOGY
The genus refers to the arrangement of flowers in corymbs and the specific epithet ptychocarpa means folded fruit.
🌷 Grown as an ornamental, for its flowers, near lakes or riverside parks to attract birds.
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