Practical
Plants

Eucalyptus viminalis

Manna Gum

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
vigorous
Height
30 m
Spread
15 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[13]. In large doses, oil of eucalyptus, like so many essential oils has caused fatalities from intestinal irritation[13]. Death is reported from ingestion of 4 - 24 ml of essential oils, but recoveries are also reported for the same amount[13]. 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[13].

Edible uses

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

A manna is exuded from the leaves[14][2][8] (from the bark as well according to some reports[17][8]) as a result of insect damage[4]. The red gum or manna exuding from cracks in the bark is eaten eagerly by boys[13]. Eucalyptus manna, which exudes from punctures in summer months, is sometimes consumed[13]. A very pleasant sweet taste[15][1], it is slightly laxative[5]. The aboriginal Australians collected it after it fell to the ground, or they scraped it from the leaves[9]. Heavily covered leaves were pounded and baked[9]. Since the manna is probably formed as a result of insect damage, it is quite possible that it will not be formed in Britain because the same insects will not be able to live here[K]. The manna contains the sugars arabinose, raffinose, dextrose, and sucrose[13].

Plant part
Sap
Product or use
Manna

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.

A sweet manna exuded from the plant has a mild laxative effect[5][11]. The essential oil found in the leaves shows an antiviral effect and can be used in the treatment of influenza[13]. The leaves inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus[13]. The leafy twig decoction was used to bathe rheumatic limbs[13].

Product or use
Antiviral
Product or use
Laxative

Material uses

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

The leaves contain between 0.35 - 0.75% essential oil, of which 50 - 65% is cineol, 5% is pinene, and 10% is eudesmol[6][13]. The bark contains 4.8 - 8% tannin[13]. The red gum or manna exuding from cracks in the bark has been used for making adhesives[13]. Planted in S. Europe for soil stabilization and to drain marshes in order to get rid of malarial mosquitoes[16]. Wood - coarse grained, durable in the soil[15][17], excellent quality[18]. In rich soils the wood is not so hard or durable[7]. The wood, which weighs about 51 lb./cu ft, is used for building, construction, joinery, and vehicles[13]. It is considered suitable for paper pulp[13] and is a moderately good fuel[7].

Product or use
Adhesive
Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Repellent
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Earth stabiliser

Environment

Range
Australia - Tasmania.
Habitat
Cool moist sites, usually on better soils, to 1400 metres[18][5].
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
drought
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[10]. 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[10].

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[10]. Tolerates poor soils, especially those low in mineral elements[10]. Tolerates dry soils and also drought once it is established[10]. A fairly hardy species, one report suggests that it is hardy to between -15°c and -20°c[10] whilst another says that plants succumb to hard frosts[2]. 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. 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[10]. Eucalyptus monocultures are an environmental disaster, they are voracious, allelopathic and encourage the worst possible attitudes to land use and conservation[10]. A fast growing tree, it is often cultivated in S.W. Europe for timber, soil stabilization shelter and as an anti-malarial measure, the trees are capable of drying out wet ground, making it unsuitable for mosquitoes to breed in[16]. This species is very easily confused with E. dalrympleana[2]. 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]. The flowers are rich in nectar and are a good bee crop[10].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  5. Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩

  7. Arnberger. L. P. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments Ass. 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  10. 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

  11. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13↩14↩15

  14. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩

  15. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  16. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  17. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

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