Mountain White Gum – Eucalyptus mooreana

February’s plant is the Mountain White Gum, Eucalyptus mooreana.  It is found in North West Western Australia, in the Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges (previously known as the King Leopold Ranges), so it is a long way from its natural habitat. The tree was formally described in 1906, and its name mooreana honours Newton James Moore who was Minister of Lands at that time.

This tree grows in red sandy soils on steep rocks and summits. The trunk is often crooked, and the tree can grow up to nine metres high.  It has a striking smooth white powdery bark.  Its common name is derived from both its location in the wild, and the bark.  The flower buds that are developing at this time of year are a beautiful maroon colour and appear in clusters of seven. The bud caps are tiny.  When the flowers emerge by pushing the caps off, they are white.  The fruits that develop are cup-shaped or hemispherical.

Amazingly, there are only six known populations of Mountain White Gum.  Because of their isolated location in the Kimberley region and the fact that they are found at reasonably high elevations, they haven’t been studied extensively. This is a species listed as “vulnerable” meaning that it is rare, needs special protection, and could become extinct, the main threats to it being fire and grazing by cattle.

The specimen in the Botanic Garden is located in the Kimberley section of the garden, near to the giant boab tree, Gija Jumulu, and its plant label reads “Tree with a View” It certainly looks out onto a fabulous vista.

Most of us will never see one of these trees in its natural home in the ranges in the Kimberley.  Conservation of threatened species is just one of the roles of the Botanic Garden and Parks Authority.  What a privilege it is to have such a rare specimen so close to our city centre. Join one of our twice-daily free guided walks or see the Guides in the Visitor Information Centre and ask where you can find it.