March 26, 2012 at 7:59 pm

Picture of the Day: The Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree

by twistedsifter

 

THE RAINBOW EUCALYPTUS TREE

 

rainbow eucalpytus tree Picture of the Day: The Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree

 

Posted to Reddit earlier today, this gorgeous photograph by Amanda Pope shows a group of Rainbow Eucalyptus trees spotted just off the Hana Highway in east Maui.

Eucalyptus deglupta is a tall tree, commonly known as the Rainbow Eucalyptus, the Mindanao Gum, or the Rainbow Gum. It is the only Eucalyptus species found naturally in the Northern Hemisphere. Its natural distribution spans New Britain, New Guinea, Ceram, Sulawesi and Mindanao. The unique multi-hued bark is the most distinctive feature of the tree. Patches of outer bark are shed annually at different times, showing a bright green inner bark. This then darkens and matures to give blue, purple, orange and then maroon tones.

In the present day this tree is grown widely around the world in tree plantations, mainly for pulpwood used in making paper. It is the dominant species used for pulpwood plantations in the Philippines. It is also cultivated as an ornamental tree for planting in tropical and subtropical climate gardens and parks. [Source: Wikipedia]