Scribbly Gum, Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Gardens

Trunk of a scribbly gum

I took this photo of the bark of a scribbly gum during a walk we did in the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Gardens earlier this year. Whenever we visit this park I am fascinated by the intricate patterns on the bark of these trees. They look like someone has taken a pen and scribbled all over the bark on the trunk, hence the name. The trees are quite common in the Sydney region.

The term ‘scribbly gum’ can refer to several species of eucalypt trees, but this one is probably the Eucalyptus haemastoma. The markings are caused by the larval form of the scribbly gum moth tunnelling through the bark.