Eucalyptus gunnii
| Eucalyptus gunnii | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |    |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 98' |
| Width: | 20' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Eucalyptus gunnii (common name: cider gum)
Propagation: Seed - surface sow February/March in a sunny position in a greenhouse[1][2][3]. Species that come from high altitudes appreciate 6 - 8 weeks cold stratification at 2°c[4]. 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[4].
Cultivation: Prefers a sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained moisture retentive circum-neutral soil[4]. Dislikes clay or chalk soils but succeeds in most other soils[5]. Tolerates poor soils[5], especially those low in mineral elements[4]. Dislikes shade[5]. Tolerates dry soils and also drought once it is established[4].
One of the hardiest Eucalyptus species[1], it is very frost resistant, tolerating long periods down to -14°c and short periods down to -18°c[6][4].
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[4]. 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[4].
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[4].
The plant has juvenile foliage which is quite different from the adult leaves[7]. The leaves, especially when bruised, are very aromatic[8].
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[9].
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].
Eucalyptus monocultures are an environmental disaster, they are voracious, allelopathic and encourage the worst possible attitudes to land use and conservation[4].
The flowers are rich in nectar and are a good bee crop[4].
Range: Australia - South Australia, Tasmania.
Habitat: Alpine areas on rocky well-drained soils, sometimes also found on marshy soils[10].
Edibility: The sap[11][10] (it is a stem exudate according to some reports[12][13]) has a sweet taste. The sap is obtained by making wounds in the bark during spring[11]. A tapped trunk yields up to ½ litre a day[14]. Another report says that the sap exudes from the trunk and can be drunk directly or fermented into a cider[15]. This same report says that the plant also produces an edible manna[15].
Medicinal: 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[16]. The essential oil is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter cold remedies[16].
An essential oil obtained from the leaves is antiseptic[17]. 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[18]. 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[18]. Some caution is advised, however, because like all essential oils, it can have a deleterious effect on the body in larger doses[18].
Usage: Leaves yield between 0.4 to 0.8% of an essential oil that contains antifungal substances[17][19].
Coppiced for fuel. The wood must be dried for at least 12 months before use[6].
Trees can be planted in wet ground to dry it up and make it unsuitable for mosquitoes to breed in[9].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Citronellal, an essential oil found in most Eucalyptus species is reported to be mutagenic when used in isolation[20].
In large doses, oil of eucalyptus, like so many essential oils has caused fatalities from intestinal irritation[20]. Death is reporte
Also Known As: E. archeri. E. divaricata.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan, 1988.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Gordon, A and D Rowe. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. 1982.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Brooker, M. A Key to Eucalypts in Britain and Ireland. HMSO, 1983.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Kelly, Stan. Eucalypts. Nelson, 1969.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Cribb, Alan and Joan Cribb. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana, 1976.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Lassak, Erich and Tara McCarthy. Australian Medicinal Plants.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Ewart, Alfred. Recording Census of the Victorian Flora. 1923.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Duke, James. Handbook of Energy Crops. 1983.