Eucalyptus viminalis
manna gum
From Lomita Mall, looking toward Varian physics, one could, until 2002, see the well-remembered centenarian manna gum, 7 feet in diameter, a residual of the avenue that ran magnetic southwest from the northwest corner of the Quad as part of Searsville Road. With its white trunk and vast spread it was a noteworthy giant. Other patriarchs, now removed, could be seen on Searsville Path where it met Sand Hill Road (now a golf course), and at the Children’s Health Council. One spectacular specimen (pictured) at the southeast end of Nelson Mall towered over the artificial turf field there (map); it was removed in spring 2013, probably in preparation for the construction of the Beach Volleyball Stadium.
A handsome row of seven stands along the south edge of the Narnia parking lot (1135 Campus Drive). Younger trees are not uncommon: see one on Panama Mall on the north edge of the Terman Fountain garden, former site of Terman Engineering Center, along with several red ironbarks. (One was reported to be east of Terman as well, but must have been removed.) Another is at the NE corner of the Haas Center (with two blue gums).
The lengthy ribbons of sunburnt bark that peel to reveal the fresh white trunk, and the threefold cream flowers, or the fruit, suffice to identify it. Manna gum provides the fodder for koalas living in the zoos of San Francisco and San Diego.
E. viminalis is the type species of the seemingly heterogeneous series Viminales, Fl. Australia, 19:344 (1988), including other campus eucalypts E. bridgesiana, E. macarthurii, E. globulus, E. gunnii, E. cinera, and E. pulverulenta.
Illustrations: E. viminalis gallery (capsules in threes, exserted valves).
N.B.
Searsville Road used to run from math corner to Governors Avenue before turning half right and going on to Sandhill Road. It was an avenue with a few different species of Eucalyptus. The fine old white trunked viminalis where the new Physics bldg is now under construction was taken out about a year ago. Two others remained on the Varian Physics parking area (parking lot between Parking Structure 2 and Varian Physics with Gravity Probe B is at the edge); the last of these was taken down this week. So this historical trio has now gone to its reward.
– RB, 8 March 2006
Related material: Eucalyptus checklist.
About this Entry: The main text of this entry is from the book Trees of Stanford and Environs, by Ronald Bracewell, published 2005. John Rawlings added the note on the Series, and the update note from Ron Bracewell. Sairus Patel noted Nelson Mall specimen removal (Apr 2018). Sairus Patel added Narnia locations, noted other removals; all locations up to date (Jul 2020).
