Odd Man Out

It may appear at first glance that there is indeed an odd "man" out here, but in fact it is not as obvious as you may at first think. Of course it is the darker tree with the blackened bark. Severely burnt to a char. Or is it the tree with the blackened crevice on the side which seems to indicate a hollow. This tree has actually been burnt out completely through its centre. There is nothing but an empty shell, but this tree will continue to grow and thrive in it's own way.

Is the odd tree the third image? They are not all gum trees. This third tree is an Angophora and not a member of the Eucalyptus family at all. These beautiful trees look similar to the gum trees common to the Australian bush. They also share the same habitats as many of the Eucalypts, but on closer inspection they are not in the same botanical classification.

Perhaps the fourth tree is the odd tree out due to the particularly beautiful patterning of the bark. I believe this is a Scribbly gum, it is a member of the Eucalyptus family. It is an outstandingly beautiful tree and shares habitat with all of these other specimens.

If you picked the last of the images then by my classification you would be correct. This tree tree is an outstanding specimen, it has beautifully textured and patterned bark, it has been burnt by the fire but not in an area visible in the image. It is actually an Angophora as well.

No this tree is different to all of the others because it is no longer a living specimen. The fire had gotten into the tree at the base and burnt out the roots, They were still smouldering the day I made this image, some two weeks after the fire had passed through. The tree in the last image is lying on it's side, burnt off at the base. The roots have a reasonable chance of surviving and regrowing a new multiple trunked tree, but this trunk and branches will return to the earth from which they came.

Sad yet still a beautiful and magnificent tree.