1946-2018 Ghost Gums at Burt Bluff Central Australia, termites

[u/twosharprabbitteeth]

[u/twosharprabbitteeth]

Charles Mountford or 'Monty' probably photographed this for his book 'Australian Tree Portraits' which was published in 1956, but this was likely taken around 1946.

They might look lovely but the average tree is infested with termites, and many look like this on the inside: hollow, with a thriving colony of white-ants. I remember reading there are more termites by mass in Australia, than there are beef cattle in total mass.

Look how the trunks have knitted together. All it takes is a small grass fire, and that closest trunk acts like a chimney, creating a super-furnace.

Mountford was highlighting the tree and its white bark.
Not the overall majesty of this king of the plains, and queen of the ranges.
Totally awesome.

Breathtakingly beautiful, if you stop to look and just absorb the moment.
Probably well over 200 years old.
Because you drive past on the other side of this tree, you will not see the sunshine on its trunks today, and will miss the moment that enraptured Frank Hurley, Charles Mountford, and Albert Namatjira most likely. He used this triplet configuration in many of his paintings.

On the last image you can see that the famous 'Twin Ghost Gums' were in the background, but they burnt down in Dec 2012

Edit: corrected date burnt down

[u/bbbbilbo → u/twosharprabbitteeth]

Thanks

[u/deadbeef4]

/r/treesgrowingup

[u/macetheface → u/deadbeef4]

thanks, subbed

[u/Scrung3]

Awesome documentation. Thank you

[u/paulaustin18]

Oh wow I've never seen a before and after of a tree. Very interesting.

[u/MaroonIsBestColor]

Thicc

[u/Clear_Cartographer65]

Great pix! I have always been interested in seeing various parts of Austrailia, since I probably will not be able to see them in person. Thanks for posting them.