The Peter Francis Points Arboretum specialises in eucalypts. Oh, there are plenty of other genera — all native — but eucs are the focus. The plant list (PDF) records over 500 species and I think I saw most of them as I strolled around in Thursday's rain, although I only recognised two or three. Yes, I'm as crap on eucalypts as I am on most other plants. I am, after all, an equal opportunity non-botanist.But not knowing anything about a subject is a reason to load up with books and camera and spend time finding out. Every step is up.
I have one book on eucalypts — Dean Nicolle's Eucalypts of Victoria and Tasmania. It's handy but it's obviously not enough. I might have to invest in Euclid.
While I'm getting a feel for the eucs — which will take ... ooh ... quite some time — I'll take pics and post them. They really are stunning trees.
And I'll write more about the Arboretum soon. Here's a little taste of what's in flower right now.
E. annulata from Western Australia
Red-flowering mallee box (E. lansdowneana) from South Australia
Curly mallee (E. gillii) from inland South Australia and New South Wales
Mottlecah (E. macrocarpa) from Western Australia
