Spotted Gum (sap)

Description:

Tall growing tree with annual shedding of bark. Grey and cream tones of the mottled bark give the tree a spotted appearance, blossoms appear each year and attract many native birds, insects and mammals to the copious amounts of nectar produced. The sap oozes from the trunk from wounds produced by insect damage or storm damage. As the tree grows or extreme variations in seasonal conditions occurs this can also happen as the tree splits from the deeper layers. The sap has been traditionally used by Aboriginal people as a medicinal treatment. This was a large amount of sap which pooled at the base of the tree over old shed bark.

Habitat:

Found naturally in Queensland, NSW and Victoria. This one in country associated with dry woodland, other species such as Ironbark, and growing in ironstone and clay soils.