Common Name: Desert Bloodwood

General Information

Corymbia terminalis is an evergreen tree growing up to 18 metres tall[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - northern South Australia, northwestern New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia.

Habitat

Deep, somewhat sandy, alluvial flats[]. Sandstone ridges in semi-arid and arid areas[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Corymbia terminalis is native to the arid and semi-arid regions of central and northern Australia.
Corymbia species generally require a sunny position, succeeding in a wide range of well-drained, circumneutral soils of low to moderate fertility[].
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[].

Edible Uses

A manna is obtained from the leaves and young branches[].

Medicinal

Kino resin, obtained from the trunk, is very astringent. Diluted, it can be 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. It can be used as a gargle and mouthwash to treat relaxed throat, loose teeth[, ].
Applied externally as a wash, it is an effective styptic and can used to treat cuts and skin problems[].

Other Uses

A kino resin is obtained from the trunk. It is used medicinally[]. Kino resins are rich in tannins and are very astringent. They can be used medicinally, in tanning, as well as for preserving and dyeing natural fibres. The resin oozes naturally from wounds in the trunk and can be tapped by making incisions in the bark. At first it is a thick liquid, but soon hardens upon exposure to the air and sun, typically drying to an amber-like material that consists of dark red angular fragments, rarely larger than a pea.

The wood is very red. It is used for building purposes, slabs, posts, joists, etc. It is not highly spoken of, but it is almost the only fairly large timber available in the districts in which it grows[].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a seedtray in a sunny position and do not allow the compost to dry out[, , ]. Species that come from high altitudes appreciate 6 - 8 weeks cold stratification at 2°c[]. 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. Seedlings are planted out in the field when they reach a height of about 25 cm. This should coincide with the onset of the rainy season in tropical countries[].
The seed has a long viability[].

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