Common Name: Corkwood

General Information

Corkwood is usually a shrub or small tree, though it can occasionally grow up to about 20 metres tall. It has a thick, corky bark[, ].
The plant is used locally by native Aborigines for medicinal purposes and as an intoxicant[]. It is cultivated in large plantations in Australia, Japan, New Guinea and New Caledonia for the industrial-scale extraction of tropane alkaloids[]. First taken into cultivation in the 1940's, alkaloid-rich strains have been selected and have been distributed widely. A hybrid of D. Myoporoides with D. Leichhardtii has shown an even higher alkaloid content (up to 7%) and is likewise grown in plantation culture. Duboisia is the world's most important source of tropane alkaloids[].

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant are poisonous due to the presence of alkaloids[].
The plant has been used to poison fish[].
An infusion of the leaves is toxic to rats, dogs, cats, and frogs and, in larger quantities, to humans[].

Botanical References

Range

Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, north to New Caledonia.

Habitat

High-rainfall areas on the margins of rainforests at elevations up to 1,000 metres[]. Also found in rainforest regrowth[]. Sandy soils in open forest, rainforest margins and coastal dunes[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 36°c[]. Plants can tolerate some frost[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 600 - 2,500mm[].
Prefers a light, well-drained soil and a sunny position[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7[].
Plants can flower virtually all year round[].
The plant has a suckering habit, especially after fires, and has the potential of becoming a weed[].

Edible Uses

The leaves contain various alkaloids and have been used to make intoxicating drinks[].

Medicinal

The leaves are a bitter, hypnotic herb that dilates the pupils, stimulates respiration and acts as a sedative[]. It contains duboisine, a mydriatic alkaloid[].
The leaves contain various alkaloids and have been used to make intoxicating drinks[, ].

The plant is a rich source of tropane alkaloids[]. These alkaloids are used in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of a wide range of medicines including stimulants, antispasmodics and analgesics.

The leaves are used in homeopathy for the treatment of eye complaints[].

The herb is subject to legal restrictions in some countries[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A natural pioneer species in its native range, where this fast-growing plant is often found in forest regrowth areas[].

Other Uses

The bark is corky, though no record of any usage has been found[].

The wood is soft[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, it germinates freely if removed from the flesh of the fruit[].

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