This evergreen tree, commonly known as the red gum eucalyptus, sticks out simply because of its sheer size. It can reach heights of 180 feet with trunks over 7ft in diameter, dwarfing any of our Sonoran Desert trees! As a Eucalyptus, it is native to Australia as well as almost all of the other 800 species in this genus. It is a member of the Myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and this species in particular has the largest native range in Australia, making it both iconic and important ecologically. White bristly looking flowers form in small clusters, which turn into woody capsules after pollination. The bark higher up the tree is a handsome white, while near the base it can be rougher and grey to reddish in color. The term “gum” comes from the sticky secretions many eucalyptus exude from wounds. Its leaves produce oils that can often be found in hygiene products worldwide. Overall, it is a big beautiful tree and with 29 scattered around campus it’s not hard to find one to appreciate!
