Common Name: Darwin Stringybark

General Information

Eucalyptus tetrodonta is an evergreen tree with an open crown; it can grow from 15 -30 metres tall. The bole is generally straight, can reach 50 - 65% of the total tree height, and be 60 - 100cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for mainly local use as a medicine and source of wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - northern Western Australia, northern Northern Territory, northern Queensland

Habitat

Open forest and woodlands, usually on country of low relief, but also extending to tablelands; at elevations up to 300 metres[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	22.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus tetradonta is native to the tropical monsoon climate of northern Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 300 metres. The mean annual rainfall is within the range 750 - 1,500mm and there is a dry season that is usually severe of up to 7 months. The mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 35°c; mean minimum temperature of the coldest month is 5°c, and there are usually no frosts[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a range of light to medium-textured, well-drained soils of moderate fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7[].
The plant develops a lignotuber - this is a woody tuber that starts to develop near the base of seedlings and can become massive in the mature plants of some species. It possesses embedded vegetative buds, allowing the plant to regenerate following crown destruction, for example by fire[]. The plant also develops adventitious shoots on its lateral roots[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An infusion of the bark is drunk as a treatment for dysentery[]. The bark contains kino resin, which is taken internally as an effective treatment for dysentery, working because it is not absorbed at all from the stomach and only very slowly from the intestine, and is thus able to directly treat the lower part of the intestine[].

An infusion of the mashed leaves is used as a remedy for headaches and fevers[].

Other Uses

A small quantity of essential oil is obtained from the leaves. Total quantity of the oil, and its composition, can vary widely from plant to plant, but we have reports that the fresh leaves contain around 0.2% essential oil. The main components include alpha-pinene (around 55%)[].

The heartwood is pale red, the sapwood yellow. The wood is fairly hard, easily split, dense and moderately durable. It is used for poles and general house construction[, ]. It is not a high-quality wood, but one of the few species in its locality which produces millable logs[].

Propagation

Seed - no pre-treatment is required[]. Surface sow in a sunny position and make sure the compost is not allowed to dry out[, , ]. Species that come from high altitudes appreciate 6 - 8 weeks cold stratification at 2°c[]. Germination is good and uniform, with 30 - 70% within 14-30 days[]. 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. The seedlings are ready for planting in the field when they are 25 - 30 cm tall, usually after 3 - 4 months.
The seed has a long viability[].
Vegetative propagation has been carried out successfully from ligno-tuberous tissue, from branch cuttings from 2 - 3 year-old saplings, and from epicormic shoots from older trees. In Congo, 60% rooting success has been obtained from cuttings[].

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