Keith Horton, Scribbly-gum trees responding to fire (Animal & Nature 2021)

These Scribbly-gum trees (Eucalyptus haemastoma) are recovering from fire by putting out epicormic shoots, which grow from buds lying underneath the bark. The bright red/orange/purple colours in the new leaves are due to anthocyanin, a pigment that protects the leaves from insect predation and from sun damage. The 'scribbles' on the bark of these trees are made by the larvae of tiny moths, which burrow under the bark. Like many eucalypts, scribbly-gums lose their old bark each year, and when they do so the trails of the larvae can be seen. These photos were taken in the Royal National Park, New South Wales, Australia. Fires are a frequent feature of this area, but Scribbly-gums are well-prepared to survive fire.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.