Corymbia calophylla

Common name Marri, so a key part of the Jarrah-Marri forest I’m living in the midst of. I don’t entirely understand the difference between a corymbia and a eucalyptus. I think it has something to do with a minor difference in their flowers. All these types of tree used to be called Eucalypts, then some smart arse decided to split the genus into Corymbias and Eucalypts. As of 2004 the change was still controversial enough that Ivan Holliday and Geoffrey Walton refused to use the word “Corymbia” in their book on Eucalypts. There you go. I imagine it’s been resolved by now, or maybe not? Perhaps it’s a raging debate that is splitting families and causing untold strife behind the apparently tranquil front of botany.

Whatever, here’s some pictures of one here. It’s the second in my “800 species of eucalypt” series (previous post here)…798 to go:

It's a big tree. It's the one on the right. The one on the left with the silvery bark is, perhaps, next in the series, although I'm having serious challenges identifying it at the moment.
It’s a big tree. It’s the one on the right. The one on the left with the silvery bark is, perhaps, next in the series, although I’m having serious challenges identifying it at the moment.
Looking up. The multiple trunks is unusual. Not sure why this one is like this, perhaps it got damaged as a youth and developed several shoots from the damage?
Looking up. The multiple trunks is unusual. Not sure why this one is like this, perhaps it got damaged as a youth and developed several shoots from the damage? Most specimens (I love saying “specimens” it sounds so formal) are a single long straight trunk to the crown.
The fruits of c. calophylla. I thought these were the seeds themselves, but no, I've since learned that they are the carriers of the seed. The urn shape is, by all accounts, a characteristic feature of this tree. Very nice they are too. Bit of a bugger under foot though as they do tend to roll away and result in unexpected stumbling...heavy afternoon drinking only makes matters worse.
The fruits of c. calophylla. I thought these were the seeds themselves, but no, I’ve since learned that they are the carriers of the seed. The urn shape is, by all accounts, a characteristic feature of this tree. Very nice they are too. Bit of a bugger under foot though as they do tend to roll away and result in unexpected stumbling…heavy afternoon drinking only makes matters worse.
It's bark is very characteristic of the species and helps identify it from E. Marginata (Jarrah) among which it is often found. See here for more on that.
It’s bark is very characteristic of the species and helps identify it from E. Marginata (Jarrah) among which it is often found. See here for more on that.

Comments welcomed