During our recent visit to White Mountains National Park, our attention was drawn to an uncommon small tree with distinctive paired heart-shaped leaves and new flower buds (photo above).
Our experts identified it as Rough-leaved Bloodwood Corymbia setosa, also known as Eucalyptus setosa.
The species name is derived from the Latin word setosus meaning “bristly”, a convenient reminder that this tree has short bristles on its buds, younger stems and leaves (photo above) and on its seed capsules when fresh (photo below).
Bristles on the seed capsules (‘gumnuts’) wear off with age. For identification of older seed capsules, note the shortened spherical or urn shape, moderate size (11–28 mm long, 11–25 mm wide) and enclosed valves (photo above).
Corymbia setosa (Myrtaceae) is endemic to seasonally dry inland parts of north-eastern Australia, typically growing as a small tree with rough, brown bark (photo above).
For more details see our species page for Corymbia setosa