Re: Eucalyptus calophylla

At 04:04 PM 4/7/99 +0300, Larry Harris wrote:
>The euc. that has been described Is Eucalyptus ficifolia,  although there
is a very 
>close relative that can be distinguished by differences in the fruit and
the fact that it 
>usually flowers earlier, E. Calophylla.  Since E. Calophylla hybridizes
freely with E. 
>ficifolia and normally has deep pink to white inflorescences it is
possible that both 
>species exist in California.

Thanks Larry - 

There is a Euc. that I've been wondering about for some time, and now,
after your suggestion, and some research of that name, I think it is E.
calophylla.  It is a larger tree than most E. ficifolias I've seen
(these are quite common here in the SF Bay Area) but does show a strong
resemblance.  The flowers, instead of the hot red-orange, coral, rich
scarlet or crimson of E. ficifolia, are a soft creamy white with lots
of rosy tints, creating a sort of 'appleblossom' color effect.  The tree
is growing in a park lawn, but I assume from the look of it, it might
be happier in a drier situation.  I've always liked the tree but have
never been sure of what species (or hyrbid) is was.  I've not seen it
elsewhere.  This part of town has a number of interest remnant plants
as most of this acreage used to be the Adolf Shilling estate - the spice
giant whose company is still around.  His estate tool up a large part
of this side of Lake Merritt in downtown Oakland, and his garden was
apparently filled with all sorts of botanical treasures.  I am still
researching this former garden but it is difficult to find definitive
information about the actual plantings.  No doubt, this specimen of E.
calophylla is likely to be formerly part of this garden (now part of a 
public park).

Sean O.
 
 Sean A. O'Hara                       sean.ohara@poboxes.com
 h o r t u l u s   a p t u s          710 Jean Street
 'a garden suited to its purpose'     Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
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