About Eucalyptus fasciculosa F.Muell.
Eucalyptus fasciculosa F.Muell., commonly known as pink gum, is most often a single-stemmed tree, rarely growing as a mallee. It typically reaches 10 to 15 metres (33 to 49 feet) in height, and grows up to 12 metres (39 feet) wide. Its bark is smooth, ranges in colour from off-white to slaty blue, and is shed in flakes; some individuals have rough, flaky bark near the base of the stem. Young plants and coppice regrowth produce egg-shaped leaves with petioles, that measure 35 to 85 millimetres (1.4 to 3.3 inches) long and 15 to 58 millimetres (0.59 to 2.28 inches) wide. Adult leaves are arranged alternately along stems, are thick, the same glossy green to blue-green colour on both sides, measure 80 to 130 millimetres (3.1 to 5.1 inches) long and 13 to 35 millimetres (0.51 to 1.38 inches) wide, and grow on a petiole 10 to 20 millimetres (0.39 to 0.79 inches) long. Flower buds are arranged at stem ends on a branching peduncle 5 to 10 millimetres (0.20 to 0.39 inches) long, with individual buds attached to pedicels 2 to 7 millimetres (0.079 to 0.276 inches) long. Mature buds are oval to diamond-shaped, 4 to 7 millimetres (0.16 to 0.28 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimetres (0.12 to 0.16 inches) wide, with a conical operculum. Flowering has been recorded in most months between March and December, and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, conical to barrel-shaped capsule 5 to 9 millimetres (0.20 to 0.35 inches) long and 4 to 8 millimetres (0.16 to 0.31 inches) wide, with valves positioned below the rim of the capsule. The seeds are grey to red-brown, irregularly shaped, and slightly flattened. Pink gum grows in woodland, or as an emergent in low shrubland, on soils with low fertility. It occurs mainly in the south-east of South Australia, specifically in the Mount Lofty Ranges, Barossa Valley, and on Kangaroo Island. It can also be found in the far south west of Victoria. This tree does not form a dense canopy, so other plants are able to grow in the dappled shade it produces. Eucalyptus fasciculosa is very similar in appearance to Eucalyptus leucoxylon. In horticulture, this eucalypt has a moderate growth rate. It can tolerate low rainfall, moderate wind including second-line salt wind, and light frost. It is planted as an ornamental tree for gardens, parks, and as a street tree.
