Eucalyptus gummifera (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Eucalyptus gummifera (Sol. ex Gaertner) Hochr.

Protologue: Candollea 2: 464 (1925).

Synonyms

• Eucalyptus corymbosa J.E. Smith (1795).

Vernacular names

• Red bloodwood, bloodwood (En).

Distribution

Native from south-eastern Queensland to eastern Victoria, Australia. Cultivated in Peninsular Malaysia.

Uses

The wood is used especially for poles, railway sleepers, mining construction and hardboard, but its use is limited due to the occurrence of gum veins.

Observations

• A medium-sized to fairly large tree of up to 35 m tall, bole generally well-shaped, bark tessellated throughout, grey-brown or brown.
• Juvenile leaves alternate, ovate to broadly lanceolate, discolorous, adult leaves alternate, broadly lanceolate to lanceolate, 10-14(-16) cm × 2-4(-5) cm, acuminate.
• Inflorescence a large terminal panicle, umbels 7-flowered; operculum hemispherical-conical, apiculate.
• Fruit urceolate, 15-20 mm × 11-15 mm, the 3 or 4 valves deeply enclosed.

E. gummifera occurs on sandy soils, on flat land and low hills in open forest up to 500 m altitude.

Selected sources

63a, 85, 232, 322a, 343, 540.

Main genus page

• Eucalyptus

Authors

• C.C.H. Jongkind (selection of species)