Aussie Gum Tree Landscape by Kaye Menner is a photograph by Kaye Menner which was uploaded on April 20th, 2017.
Aussie Gum Tree Landscape by Kaye Menner
Two beautiful australian gum trees, standing tall before a landscape of grass, clear blue skies and many more gum trees in the distance. I captured... more
by Kaye Menner
Title
Aussie Gum Tree Landscape by Kaye Menner
Artist
Kaye Menner
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Two beautiful australian gum trees, standing tall before a landscape of grass, clear blue skies and many more gum trees in the distance. I captured this image from the famous Lane Cove National Park in Sydney, NSW, Australia. In the background one can see the buildings of the Chatswood skyline, a nearby city and Sydney suburb.
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[Courtesy - http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/eucalypts ]
Eucalypts, commonly known as gum trees, form an integral part of the Australian identity with the bush. From the children's song Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree through to the distinctive smell of eucalypts to iconic paintings and photographs, eucalypts are an essential part of Australian culture, featuring in art, music and literature.
[Courtesy - http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2979988.htm ]
Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora are three genera within the Myrtaceae family that are all known as gum trees because of the gooey sap they exude.
Angophora costata is found growing right across the Sydney sandstone region. It's commonly known as Sydney Red Gum because its sap is red. It was this tree that inspired Sir Joseph Banks to call them gum trees.
With over 900 species of gum trees, it's probably not surprising that aboriginal people have used them in so many different ways over the years.
Clarence says that many older people used the gum as an adhesive, a sweet lolly, or even as a toothache remedy.
The leaves also contain a useful ingredient - eucalyptus oil - which is now used world-wide for range of applications. Clarence says that the oil from the Peppermint Gum (Eucalyptus piperita) was used by the first fleet doctors to treat the convicts and the marines.
Many gum trees are identified by the uses of their bark. For example, the wood of the ironbark tree is extremely hard and was used for making tools and weapons.
Different parts of the stringy bark tree were also to make various objects, including canoes and paddles. The inner bark was used to make string by soaking it and weaving two strands together. Clarence says the resulting string is "really strong and quite good to use."
Timber from many of the trees is used to make coolamons - which are a curved wooden tray - and are used to carry things in. Other uses for timber included musical instruments such as bilmas or clap sticks and, of course, the yidaki or didgeridoo.
Clarence says, "Whether you call them Eucalyptus, Corymbia, Angophora, Ironbark, Stringybark - it doesn't matter! They're all gum trees and they're iconic to the Australian landscape."
Uploaded
April 20th, 2017
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Comments (14)
Kaye Menner
Thanks very much Michaela for the feature in Native Plants Group :) (Think you meant 6th June 2021) ! I always enjoy browsing your new images and I left a couple of L/F's in appreciation.
Michaela Perryman
Congratulations featured Australian Wildflowers and Native Plants Group 5th May 2021
Kaye Menner
Thanks again Michaela :) If you're ever in Sydney, it's definitely worth a visit to Lane Cove National Park!
Kaye Menner
Thank you so much Maryse for featuring my image in The Best of Down Under - Australia. I loved browsing some of your new images and I left several L/F's in appreciation.
Maryse Jansen
Congratulations! Your image is now featured on the home page of The Best Of Down Under – Australia! Feel free to add your image to the Featured Images Archive 2020 discussion thread for prolonged exposure. LF
Kaye Menner
Thanks again, Lexa :) Yes our gums are fantastic, unless right near your house... a bit scary!
Kaye Menner
Thanks very much Wes for your wonderful comment :) I enjoyed viewing some of you amazing images and left a few votes as a thank you.
Wes Iversen
Wonderfully composed and an excellent juxtaposition between the natural environment and the skyline in the background, Kaye! L/F