The strange tree whose trunk is a rainbow of colour

The strange tree whose trunk is a rainbow of colour

Why the eucalyptus tree is a multicoloured piece of art

Published: February 10, 2025 at 10:01 am

sThe world would be a very drab place indeed without flower, fruits, and leaves. But few plants brighten up tine place quite like the rainbow eucalyptus, a native of New Guinea Indonesia and the Philippines, says Stuart Blackman.

Tree bark is usually composed of dead tissue, which splits and cracks to accommodate the increasing girth of the growing plant. Bark provides protection from herbivores, infections, fire and the sun - and, in the rainbow eucalyptus, a brilliant display of colour.

As the eucalyptus grows, it sheds its older bark in long strips, uncovering bright green streaks of living tissue. As this matures, it passes through various shades of blue, purple, red and orange before finally settling on a rich brown.

Rarely does Mother Nature have a canvas as large as this on which to let her imagination run wild. And the result is truly spectacular. If ever a forest deserved to be called enchanted, this is it.

Probably worthy of a place on our weirdest trees list

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