Eucalyptus saligna (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Eucalyptus saligna J.E. Smith

Protologue: Trans. Linn. Soc., London 3: 285 (1797).

Vernacular names

• Sydney blue gum (En).

Distribution

Native to south-eastern Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Planted in the highlands of Java and in Africa and South America.

Uses

The wood is used as a general-purpose hardwood and also as a fuelwood. E. saligna is used for reforestation purposes. The leaves yield eucalypt oil.

Observations

• A very large tree of up to 55 m tall, bole straight, 50-70% of the total height, up to 200 cm in diameter, bark smooth, flaky at the base, white or blue-grey.
• Juvenile leaves first opposite, then alternate, ovate to broadly lanceolate, discolorous, adult leaves alternate, lanceolate, 9-17 cm × 2-3 cm, petiole 15-25 mm long.
• Inflorescence simple, umbels 7-11-flowered.
• Flower buds fusiform or more or less ovoid, operculum conical.
• Fruit cylindrical, campanulate or subpyriform, 5-8 mm × 4-7 mm, with 3-4 exserted valves curved outwards.

E. saligna occurs on tableland and slopes in open forest and is generally planted in tropical mountainous areas or subtropical areas.

Selected sources

63a, 85, 232, 322a, 343, 359, 540, 659.

Main genus page

• Eucalyptus

Authors

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