Practical
Plants

Eucalyptus largiflorens

Black Box

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Eucalyptus genus in the family Myrtaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Myrtaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
18 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[9]. In large doses, oil of eucalyptus, like so many essential oils has caused fatalities from intestinal irritation[9]. Death is reported from ingestion of 4 - 24 ml of essential oils, but recoveries are also reported for the same amount[9]. 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[9].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - soaked for a couple of hours in several changes of water and then dried and ground into a meal which is eaten raw[3].

Plant part
Seed

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An essential oil is obtained from this plant (from the leaves?[K]. Yields are up to 0.5%[5]. Wood - hard, tough, strong, very durable, heavy, pink or reddish-brown[4]. An excellent timber[6].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria.
Habitat
River flats that are dry in summer and inundated in the winter[4][6]. Usually on clay or clay loams with poor drainage in areas with low rainfall and high summer temperatures[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 10+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant
Salinity
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[1][11][2]. Species that come from high altitudes appreciate 6 - 8 weeks cold stratification at 2°c[7]. 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[7].

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[7]. Tolerates poor and dry soils, especially those low in mineral elements[7]. A drought tolerant plant once established[7], it succeeds in limestone soils and tolerates saline soils[6]. One report says that this species resists frost[10], whilst another suggests that it is in zone 10 which is not frost hardy[7]. Plants obtained from the colder provenances of its range might succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of Britain. 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. A deep mulch around the roots to prevent the soil from freezing also helps the trees to survive cold conditions[7]. 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[7]. Eucalyptus monocultures are an environmental disaster, they are voracious, allelopathic and encourage the worst possible attitudes to land use and conservation[7]. A slow growing tree[10]. 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[8]. They strongly resent root disturbance and should be container grown before planting out into their permanent position[1]. The flowers are rich in nectar and are a good bee crop[7].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩

  3. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

    ↩

  4. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩1↩2

  5. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-00-216441-8

    ↩

  6. Holliday. I. and Hill. R. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller Ltd. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-85179-627-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  8. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  9. Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - 1983-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Kelly. S. Eucalypts. (2 volumes.) Nelson, Melbourne 1969-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  11. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

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