Eucalyptus gunnii
Cider Gum
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Eucalyptus genus in the family Myrtaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Myrtaceae
- Genus
- Eucalyptus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 30 m
- Spread
- 6 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Citronellal, an essential oil found in most Eucalyptus species is reported to be mutagenic when used in isolation[14]. In large doses, oil of eucalyptus, like so many essential oils has caused fatalities from intestinal irritation[14]. Death is reported from ingestion of 4 - 24 ml of essential oils, but recoveries are also reported for the same amount[14]. Symptoms include gastroenteric burning and irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, oxygen deficiency, ,weakness, dizziness, stupor, difficult respiration, delirium, paralysis, convulsions, and death, usually due to respiratory failure[14].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The sap[10][18] (it is a stem exudate according to some reports[17][7]) has a sweet taste. The sap is obtained by making wounds in the bark during spring[10]. A tapped trunk yields up to ½ litre a day[4]. Another report says that the sap exudes from the trunk and can be drunk directly or fermented into a cider[8]. This same report says that the plant also produces an edible manna[8].
- Plant part
- Sap
- Product or use
- Manna
- Plant part
- Sap
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Eucalyptus leaves are a traditional Aboriginal herbal remedy. The essential oil found in the leaves is a powerful antiseptic and is used all over the world for relieving coughs and colds, sore throats and other infections[13]. The essential oil is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter cold remedies[13]. An essential oil obtained from the leaves is antiseptic[5]. The essential oil obtained from various species of eucalyptus is a very powerful antiseptic, especially when it is old, because ozone is formed in it on exposure to air. It has a decided disinfectant action, destroying the lower forms of life[15]. The oil can be used externally, applied to cuts, skin infections etc, it can also be inhaled for treating blocked nasal passages, it can be gargled for sore throat and can also be taken internally for a wide range of complaints[15]. Some caution is advised, however, because like all essential oils, it can have a deleterious effect on the body in larger doses[15].
- Product or use
- Antiseptic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves yield between 0.4 to 0.8% of an essential oil that contains antifungal substances[5][6]. Coppiced for fuel. The wood must be dried for at least 12 months before use[1]. Trees can be planted in wet ground to dry it up and make it unsuitable for mosquitoes to breed in[16].
- Product or use
- Essential
- Product or use
- Fuel
- Product or use
- Fungicide
- Product or use
- Repellent
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- Australia - South Australia, Tasmania.
- Habitat
- Alpine areas on rocky well-drained soils, sometimes also found on marshy soils[18].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure, drought
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - surface sow February/March in a sunny position in a greenhouse[2][19][3]. Species that come from high altitudes appreciate 6 - 8 weeks cold stratification at 2°c[11]. Pot up the seedlings into individual pots as soon as the second set of seed leaves has developed, if left longer than this they might not move well. Plant out into their permanent positions in early summer and give them some protection from the cold in their first winter. The seed can also be sown in June, the young trees being planted in their final positions in late spring of the following year. The seed has a long viability[11].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained moisture retentive circum-neutral soil[11]. Dislikes clay or chalk soils but succeeds in most other soils[20]. Tolerates poor soils[20], especially those low in mineral elements[11]. Dislikes shade[20]. Tolerates dry soils and also drought once it is established[11]. One of the hardiest Eucalyptus species[2], it is very frost resistant, tolerating long periods down to -14°c and short periods down to -18°c[1][11]. Eucalyptus species have not adopted a deciduous habit and continue to grow until it is too cold for them to do so. This makes them more susceptible to damage from sudden cold snaps. If temperature fluctuations are more gradual, as in a woodland for example, the plants have the opportunity to stop growing and become dormant, thus making them more cold resistant[11]. A deep mulch around the roots to prevent the soil from freezing also helps the trees to survive cold conditions. The members of this genus are remarkably adaptable however, there can be a dramatic increase in the hardiness of subsequent generations from the seed of survivors growing in temperate zones[11]. A very ornamental tree, it is very fast growing when young and requires shelter from strong winds if it is not to become very wind-shaped[K]. Trees can tolerate salt-laden winds[11]. The plant has juvenile foliage which is quite different from the adult leaves[9]. The leaves, especially when bruised, are very aromatic[12]. Plants respond well to coppicing. Commonly planted in S.W. Europe as a timber tree and also for shelter, soil conservation and as an anti-malarial measure since it will dry out wet land that is suitable for mosquitoes to breed in[16]. Plants are shallow-rooting and, especially in windy areas, should be planted out into their permanent positions when small to ensure that they do not suffer from wind-rock[12]. They strongly resent root disturbance and should be container grown before planting out into their permanent position[2]. Eucalyptus monocultures are an environmental disaster, they are voracious, allelopathic and encourage the worst possible attitudes to land use and conservation[11]. The flowers are rich in nectar and are a good bee crop[11].
References
Brooker. M. I. A Key to Eucalypts in Britain and Ireland. HMSO 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710192-3
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00
Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4
Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants.
Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - 1983-00-00
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Kelly. S. Eucalypts. (2 volumes.) Nelson, Melbourne 1969-00-00
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.