MELBOURNE STREET TREES 13

Eucalyptus caesia, commonly known as Caesia, Gungurru or Silver Princess, is a mallee gum of the Eucalyptus genus. It is endemic to the central Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, where it is found on a small number of granite outcrops. The name "silver" refers to the white powder that covers the branches, flower buds and fruit. "Gungurru" comes from the name used by the indigenous Noongar people. Two subspecies have been identified: Caesia (about 6–9 metres tall) and Magna (up to 15 metres tall). The bark is red-brown, of the curly minni ritchi type. Branches tend to flail or weep on the ground. Trees have large red-pink or white flowers, 40-50mm in diameter. They are widely grown as ornamental native plants, but have become rare in the wild. They are common as street trees in Melbourne.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

One can see the buds clearly here, in which cover the flower is covered well by a flattened, conical, lid-like operculum (Eucalyptus means in Greek "well-covered" as it refers to this well protected  bud)

The flowers are at their best in Spring, around October (remember the seasons are the other way around in the Southern Hemisphere!)

Here, one can see a spent flower in the centre top. This will develop into the seed or "gum-nut" in a few months time

Here are the gum-nuts in March

The view from the bottom - it is a rainy day today!