Tree Tour - Cunningham Drive

1. Angophoras
The first group of plants on the left are angophoras. These trees are commonly known as ‘Apples’ — perhaps because the gnarled branches, the foliage or the blossoms of some Sydney species reminded the early settlers of apple trees. Angophoras are related to eucalypts but their flower buds lack covers and their leaves are arranged opposite each other rather than alternately. All of the thirteen species of Angophora are from eastern Australia. 

2. Bloodwoods
On the right you will see a group of trees clustered around the S-bend in the road. These eucalypts have recently been separated from the genus Eucalyptus and placed into a new genus of their own — Corymbia. The group includes Bloodwoods and Yellow Jackets, and many are from the tropics as well as eastern New South Wales and Queensland. Look for the Spotted Gum Corymbia maculata, which occurs naturally along the road to Appin, and the popular Lemon Scented Gum, Corymbia citriodora. 

3. Local eucalypts
About 200 m further along on the left hand side is a small planting of the three local eucalypts — the Forest Red Gum Eucalyptus tereticornis, the Narrow-leaved Ironbark Eucalyptus crebra and the Grey Box Eucalyptus moluccana. Opposite these, on the right hand side, are the paper-fruited bloodwoods, including the Carbeen Eucalyptus tessellaris or Moreton Bay Ash with its decorative tessellated bark on the lower trunk.

4. Eucalypts from Western Australia
About 100  m further on the right hand side close to an S-bend is a group of trees which are mainly mallees from Western Australia. The Tallerack Eucalyptus pleurocarpa has square, white stems and fruit and often  juvenile leaves. The Inland Yellowjacket Eucalyptus similis has peeling, yellow bark.

5. Tallowwood
About 400 m further on, look to the left and along the water race easement and you will see a line of Tallowwood Eucalyptus microcorys. Tallowwood is one of the best hardwoods in Australia. It is classified in a section of its own as it is not closely related to other eucalypts. The wattles you see on many of the bends are Coastal Myall Acacia binervia. 

6. Mallees
On both sides of the road going up the hill, you will see some mallees — small multi-stemmed eucalypts. These are from arid parts of Western Australia and South Australia. Look on the left for the interesting orange-red buds on the popular Fuchsia Mallee Eucalyptus forrestiana and on the Square-fruited Mallee Eucalyptus tetraptera. On the right, going up the hill, you will see tall species such as Eucalyptus megacornuta and the very fine foliage of Eucalyptus angustissima.

7. Mahogany and Grey Gums
About 50 m further along on the right hand side is another group of eucalypts. Coming mostly from moist, coastal environments, these trees are generally larger and have broader, greener leaves than trees from the arid parts of Australia. Many of the gums in this group have been commercially harvested for their timber.

 8. Sugar Gums
About 50 m further on the left at the top of the hill there is a group of Sugar Gums (Eucalyptus cladocalyx). These trees have durable timber and are also widely planted as ornamentals. On the left hand side about 50 m further is a group of mallees — small multi-stemmed trees — mainly from Western Australia.

9. Sheoaks
About 400 m along you will see a number of Sheoaks around Lake Nadungamba (meaning ‘water of the flowers’ in the native Tharawal language). Sheoaks include casuarinas and allocasuarinas. They can be found near fresh or brackish water (e.g. the Swamp Oak Casuarina glauca) or in drier sandstone soils (e.g. Allocasuarina distyla). Sheoaks range in size from very small ground covers (e.g. Allocasuarina nana) to large trees (e.g. Casuarina cunninghamiana). Their name, which would now be considered insulting to women, is derived from the timber, which is oak-like in appearance but inferior in strength. After another 100 m you will pass the Woodland Picnic Area. 

10. Local woodland
After another 100 m on both sides of the road you will pass through the woodland conservation area. Here at Mount Annan Botanic Garden we are fortunate to have valuable remnants of the original Cumberland Plain Woodland — including the endangered species Pimelea spicata. These areas make a valuable contribution to conserving local biodiversity. Eucalypts occuring in the Woodland include Grey Box Eucalyptus moluccana, Narrow-leaved Ironbark Eucalyptus crebra, and Forest Red Gum Eucalyptus tereticornis. The shrubby Blackthorn Bursaria spinosa here provides valuable habitat for birds.

Have a picnic by the small pond, amongst the native birds, or continue on to the Visitor Centre for lunch or a snack. Alternatively you might like to complete the self-guided tour of the Arboretum by following the brochure for the South Loop.