Genetically Modified Eucalyptus Tree Tests

Gus

I think you are mixing trees up

(Tasmanian) Blue Gum: Eucalyptus globulus, common in its natural habitats in VIC and TAS. Also very common in cultivation for more than 150 years, as it is one of the more widespread eucalypts overseas. Examples: around here, and in California.

(Sydney) Blue Gum: Eucalyptus saligna, also common in its natural habitats in NSW and QLD. Also relatively common in cultivation overseas, but much less than E. globulus.

This last one is the one that is part of the Blue Gum Tall Forest, which spreads from Sydney Basin, its Southern boundary, to the North of NSW. This type of forest was once much more common around Sydney, and it was a nightmare for the early settlers that needed to clear it by hand to raise food. Only those few patches remain now, as the city grew. They are valuable and deserve protection, same way as other patches of native vegetation around the city and its suburbs, because they can still show "what was here once".

However, most of the world thinks of the other tree when thinking of a Blue Gum

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EUCALYPTOLOGICS, Information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation here and there

jmcg.insight.gardens

oops,

need to take more care with my posts, yes of course your right, I do know the difference between the Blue Gums, it was E. saligna I was talking about, I usually try to be more careful with my wording.

I haven't had a good look at your website yet due to this rotten flu.

Eric Frei

And up here the E tereticornis can be called Queensland blue gum or forest red gum.

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jmcg.insight.gardens

That's the reason I never liked common names, they vary from region to region. I've had no end of trouble over the years with common names, people wanting me to identify plants from their common names. I never originally learnt the common names. They are teaching them at college now, along with the botanical names, I'm not in agreement with it, they confuse the identity of the species, mind you, to pass the exam, common names are not included.

So the Eucalyptus in my front yard is Eucalyptus tereticornis ( a hybrid mind you), I've learnt at college it's common name is Forest Red Gum, but up your way it's Queensland Blue Gum, Eucalyptus globulus is also known as the Southern Blue Gum, but it's also Tasmanian Blue Gum you see what I mean? There is the problem with common names. It's hard enough keeping up with all the botanical revisions of name changes.

It's bad enough on that front, then you add the factor of Hybridization eg Eucalyptus saligna x Eucalyptus botryoides what do you call them as a common name?

Then you have a recent thread here where the common name of White Poplar varies from region to region.

right I'm off my soap box now. I hate common names

But thank's Eric, I didn't know that..........

Julie

Brent Ferris

I agree Julie - common names can be a problem, and I probably enhanced the confusion using the common name for white poplar instead of Populus alba. I goofed!
Unfortunately, although I passed the exams knowing the latin names and the common names, most of my clients think you're showing off if you quote the latin name, and work can be hard enough to get without antagonizing the client. After almost 30 years, I am not always so ready with some of the latin names . And when the botanical world wants to change the latin name, and then change it back -- because it has caused confusion -- I am even more confused. So bear with me if I goof up again. I keep trying to keep up to the standards.

I have noticed you seem to have tabs on a great volume of reference literature. Can you recommend any links for native Australian trees? The trees sound and look fascinating, and I would like to learn more about them.

Brent

Gus

Brent --> Use common names known in the area in normal conversation, but, whenever possible, if knowing the latin equivalent, use it along with the common name in any written document your client may see? That way you do not show off too much, educate your clients and permanently refresh your own knowledge

Julie --> Even the most specialized botanist must take in consideration common names, because that is the way the trees or plants have been more widely known since the early days. I want to suggest this book for the case of eucalypts to any Tree World reader interested in these trees. There are many more and good by these and other authors, but this one is handy and can be carried easily. I take mine with me in the car. There, all species are classified by their latin name, but there is always an index of common names with their equivalent in order to quickly find any tree no matter how you search for it.

Eric --> Good one! I had forgotten about the E. tereticornis! See the curious detail: if you add E. globulus, E. grandis (many times confused with the closely related E. saligna) and E. tereticornis, you can almost jump from Blue Gum to Blue Gum from Tassie to Cape York. And all of those together are a very important part of the more than 20 billion eucalypt trees planted trees growing out of native forests in the world. So, the world is planted with Blue Gums!

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EUCALYPTOLOGICS, Information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation here and there

jmcg.insight.gardens

mis más sinceras disculpas Gus, I'm a bit cranky today with the flu, of course your quite right, I should be more receptive to common names, I just find them very confusing at times. I should not get on my soap box.

No Brent, you did not goof!, my apologies, this is just the problem with common names, try to keep up the botanical names, Gus's suggestions are very good, plus use this site to polish them again, I too find it hard at times, it’s been 25 years for me too, you would be surprised how many clients here in my area expect you to be able to just pop out the botanical name for a plant, considering how many species there are in the world, as if you are a computer, we all have trouble with it at times. My tactic is to explain to clients that my "computer" hasn't warmed up yet when they do that. The book that Gus linked is a good one, the books I have are mostly now out of print. As far as links to the net there is Eucalink, for NSW species, Euclid which you have to pay for, but it will give you some sample reading to see if you wish to purchase it or go further with buying books, Plantnet and others. I personally prefer books, especially ones I can take out in the field.

>> An Introduction to the Eucalypts
PlantNET - FloraOnline
EUCLID - Eucalypts of Southern Australia

Eucalyptus really are the most fascinating genera, really they require specialization, so diverse and one I find of interest

regards Julie

Gus

"The George River Water Quality Panel of eminent and independent scientists today (29 June 2010) released its final report into water quality in the St Helens area. The Panel has completed its examination of the evidence following issues raised in ABC’s Australian Story program, and has passed the report findings to the Premier of Tasmania, David Bartlett".


Some excerpted quotes from it:

"There are no abnormal cancer rates within the St Helens drinking water area based on community health records for the period 1993–2007. The incidence and pattern of cancer within the region is consistent with the profile of the community, and did not show any characteristics of a ‘cluster’."

"There is no evidence that pesticides in the drinking water supply in St Helens pose a health risk to the community. Insecticides have never been detected in the water supply system at St Helens."

"It is apparent that Pacific oysters growing in Georges Bay are subject to multiple stressors including temperature, grading, fresh water, toxic algae, turbidity, oyster stocking densities, TBT, other antifouling agents and other catchment-derived contaminants. Contaminants associated with river or bay foam may be an additional but minor stressor on oyster health."

"The deflated river foam samples used for the investigations presented on Australian Story were highly concentrated by the ‘skimmer box’ sampling apparatus used to collect the foam. The extreme concentration of the foam (>1000-fold) created by the skimmer box accounts for the experimental toxicity of the foam to sensitive test organisms."

"The toxicity in the concentrated foam samples from the George River cannot be attributed to Eucalyptus nitens alone as postulated on Australian Story, as toxicity has also been detected in concentrated river foam from Crystal Creek, a catchment devoid of E. nitens plantations."

The whole thing (including all the fact and data) are available, courtesy of the Tasmanian Government, here:

www.georgeriverwater.org.au

In few words: If you drop an ounce of sugar in a swimming pool, you'll never notice it is sweetened. If you boil nearly all water in the pool and get some thick caramel at the bottom, you can't claim the pool is full o'suga, baby

So, The Premier did his thing too

Water scare sorry demand - The Mercury

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EUCALYPTOLOGICS, Information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation here and there

Eric Frei

Thank you for a great bit of work.

None of us can keep an eye on everything, and following up on this story, your contributions and sticking to facts has been a delightful experience to read.

The ABC should know better from it's own cancer cases in Toowong and Melbourne offices, although nothing was found there was mass panic and the Toowong office shut down.

We have seen mass panic attacks at airports, and there's been nothing found.

Fear is contagious. and as we get bombarded by media we as individuals need to become more astute as to what the facts are and what the hype is.

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jmcg.insight.gardens

in other words more media propaganda, as I suspected, glad I put it out there for debate.

couldn't put it better Eric. Thank you Gus for taking the time to present the real facts, it's obviously something that is close to your heart.......


"Chi non ascolta il bosco non ascolta a suo cuore"

Julie

sueann

Researchers at Stony Brook University in New York taped absorbent pads to the armpits of 40 volunteers about to do their first ever sky-dive.

They collected the sweat produced as the volunteers plummeted to Earth and then asked a second group of volunteers to breath the fear-soaked samples alongside some fear-free sweat.

How nice.

jmcg.insight.gardens

LOL, yes but what happened Sueann, what where the results?

Julie