The Argyle Apple - Eucalyptus Cinerea

 

Forest Trees of New South Wales

… Another kind of forest-tree, which is also exempt from shedding the bark, and which, from its singularity, is worthy of being mentioned, is called the apple-tree, and as it grows generally in the richest alluvial flats, it is considered an indication of good soil, but neither has this tree any claim of fraternity with the apple-tree of our orchards. The reason of this appellation was for a long time a mystery to me, nor could any to whom I applied solve the problem. One day, however, I observed a black making an incision with his tomahawk into one of these trees, which produced a clear watery fluid, to which he applied his lips and seemed pleased with the draught. I then requested him to make an opening for me, which he did, and I caught more than a pint of fluid in a tin vessel, which upon tasting, I found to possess an acidity by no means unlike cider. Indeed the rough cider which is generally used by the hard-working labourers of Devonshire, is not at all more pleasant to the palate than the juice thus procured.

Text and image source: Sketches of New South Wales: Written and Illustrated for The Saturday Magazine in 1836-1837 by William Romaine Govett (1977) pp.24-25.



Eucalyptus cinerea: The beautiful blue grey foliage of this tree is one of the first images a visitor gets of this area. Although it occurs from near Sofala down to near Tumut it is most common in the Goulburn districts and the name Argyle Apple derives from the old name, County Argyle, for the area. The latin name, cinerea, means ash-coloured, a reference to the powdery white covering on the leaves and buds. 

Homage to the Argyle Apple
in Goulburn Library

from the Artists Statement:
The landscape of dry grass and the 
blue of the Cookbundoon hills is
seen through the tree trunks ...
Mary Hall (1992)

An unusual feature of the tree is that it usually keeps its juvenile foliage throughout its life. Only occasionally (and mainly in cultivation) does the Argyle Apple produce its elongated adult leaves. The trees do not flower and set seed every year. The flowers occur in October to December and are creamy white, in clusters of three close into the stem almost hidden by the leaves. Leaves are produced commercially for the cut flower market by bollarding or coppicing the trees and protecting them from insect attack with insecticides. The timber is strong and dense but usually far too twisted and knotty to be of use except as a decorative detail or as firewood.

Source: Wild Windellama: articles from the Windellama News September 1997 to November 2001 by Carina Clarke (2002).

Has anyone in your family been so impressed by the trees growing in our region that they are moved to create artistic works about them?  Please share your memories.