Karri
Encyclopedia
Eucalyptus diversicolor, commonly known as the Karri, is a eucalypt
which is native to the wetter regions of south west
of Western Australia
.
top of the leaf and its underside while the common name is derived from the aboriginal name for the tree. The trunk extends straight up with no secondary trunks: occasionally a twin trunk occurs where two trunks of the same diameter grow straight up from the seedling stage. In mature trees branches will be present in the top third of the tree only. The leaves are dark green on top and lighter underneath, and grow to a length of 90–120 mm and 20–30 mm broad. The flower
s occur in groups of seven, each flower 18–28 mm diameter. Flowers are cream coloured. It flowers in spring and summer, and flowering is stimulated after fire. The fruit
s are squat barrel-shaped, 7–10 mm long and 10–15 mm broad, containing numerous small dry seeds.
Karri occurs only within the High Rainfall Zone
of the South West Botanical Province of Western Australia
. It mostly occurs within the Warren
biogeographic region, but there are some outlying populations, of which the most notable is in the Porongorup Ranges.
Karri wood is a beautiful mahogany color, lighter in color than jarrah. It is used extensively in the building industry, particularly in roofs due to the length and uninterrupted knot-free nature of the trunk. It has the reputation of being termite-prone, although it is nowhere near as susceptible to these insects as pine. It is also a great furniture wood. Karri honey is widely sought after for its light color and delicate flavor. Tourism to this area is also supported by the karri.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
which is native to the wetter regions of south west
Southwest Australia
Southwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world...
of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Description
The tree grows to 90 metres, making it one of the tallest species in the world. It has white to cream bark that changes to brown as it matures and is shed. As the bark is shed the predominantly white trunk takes on a patina of colours from white to grey to deep brown. The botanical name “diversicolor” means “separate colours” and refers to the difference between thetop of the leaf and its underside while the common name is derived from the aboriginal name for the tree. The trunk extends straight up with no secondary trunks: occasionally a twin trunk occurs where two trunks of the same diameter grow straight up from the seedling stage. In mature trees branches will be present in the top third of the tree only. The leaves are dark green on top and lighter underneath, and grow to a length of 90–120 mm and 20–30 mm broad. The flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s occur in groups of seven, each flower 18–28 mm diameter. Flowers are cream coloured. It flowers in spring and summer, and flowering is stimulated after fire. The fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
s are squat barrel-shaped, 7–10 mm long and 10–15 mm broad, containing numerous small dry seeds.
Ecology
The soil in which karri grow is often poor, and the tree tends to flower after fire to take advantage of the nutrients released by the combustion of forest litter. The soil is classified Karri Loam. Though low in some minor nutrients it is admired for its depth and pasture-growing properties. The depth of the soil is several metres and thought to be created primarily from the bark shed by the tree, which collects at the trunk base to a depth upwards of six metres in mature trees. The karri supports an extensive ecosystem which is connected to the granite outcrops of the lower south-west and the many subsequent creeks and rivers created from runoff. Karri generally dominate in the deep valleys between granite outcrops surrounding the creeks and rivers.Distribution
High Rainfall Zone
The High Rainfall Zone is one of three biogeographic zones into which south west Western Australia is divided, the others being the Transitional Rainfall Zone and the Low Rainfall Zone....
of the South West Botanical Province of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. It mostly occurs within the Warren
Warren (biogeographic region)
Warren, also known as Karri Forest Region and the Jarrah-Karri forest and shrublands ecoregion, is a biogeographic region in southern Western Australia. Located in the southwest corner of Western Australia between Cape Naturaliste and Albany, it is bordered to the north and east by the Jarrah...
biogeographic region, but there are some outlying populations, of which the most notable is in the Porongorup Ranges.
Uses
See also
- Gloucester TreeGloucester TreeThe Gloucester Tree is a giant karri tree in the Gloucester National Park of Western Australia. At 72 metres in height, it is the world's tallest fire-lookout tree, and visitors can climb up to a platform in its upper branches for a spectacular view of the surrounding karri forest...
, a famous karri tree in Western AustraliaWestern AustraliaWestern Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
that has a platform 61 metres above ground level; - Warren (biogeographic region)Warren (biogeographic region)Warren, also known as Karri Forest Region and the Jarrah-Karri forest and shrublands ecoregion, is a biogeographic region in southern Western Australia. Located in the southwest corner of Western Australia between Cape Naturaliste and Albany, it is bordered to the north and east by the Jarrah...
, also known as the Karri Forest Region.
External links
- National Geographic
- Department of Conservation and Environment - information page.