Eucalyptus decorticans
(F.M.Bailey) Maiden
Myrtaceae
Eucalyptus siderophloia decorticans F.M.Bailey
Common Name: Gum-topped Ironbark
General Information
Eucalyptus decorticans is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 40 metres tall[
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is grouped with the grey ironbarks for commercial purposes.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
1661- Title
- Flora of South-eastern Queensland (3 volumes)
- Publication
- Queensland Department of Primary Industries; Miscellaneous Publication 81020
- Author
- Stanley T.D. & Ross E.M.
- Publisher
- Queensland Government; Queensland
- Year
- 1983
- ISBN
- 0-7242-2127-1
- Description
-
Range
Australia - southeastern Queensland
Habitat
Generally found in hilly country, often growing on sandstone or sometimes stony clays[
1661- Title
- Flora of South-eastern Queensland (3 volumes)
- Publication
- Queensland Department of Primary Industries; Miscellaneous Publication 81020
- Author
- Stanley T.D. & Ross E.M.
- Publisher
- Queensland Government; Queensland
- Year
- 1983
- ISBN
- 0-7242-2127-1
- Description
-
].
Properties
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 33.00 m |
| Pollinators | Bees, Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Eucalyptus decorticans is native to the subtropical regions of southeastern Queendland, just moving into the tropics. It grows in a region where the summers are moist and there is little rain in the winter.
Eucalyptus species generally require a sunny position, succeeding in a wide range of well-drained, circumneutral soils of low to moderate fertility[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
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
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
An 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 0.1 - 0.3% essential oil. The main components include leptospermone, pinene (28%), 1,8-cineole (10%), terpineol (6%), globulol [
1659- Title
- Eucalyptus Leaf Oils: Use, Chemistry, Distillation and Marketing
- Publication
- Phytochemistry June 1992
- Author
- Southwell I.A.
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80403-2
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An extensive list of Eucalyptus species and their essential oil content.
].
The wood is brown to reddish brown, heavy, hard, very strong and durable[
1661- Title
- Flora of South-eastern Queensland (3 volumes)
- Publication
- Queensland Department of Primary Industries; Miscellaneous Publication 81020
- Author
- Stanley T.D. & Ross E.M.
- Publisher
- Queensland Government; Queensland
- Year
- 1983
- ISBN
- 0-7242-2127-1
- Description
-
].
Propagation
Seed - surface sow in a sunny position and make sure the compost is not allowed to dry out[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
78- Title
- Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sheat. W. G.
- Publisher
- MacMillan and Co
- Year
- 1948
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
,
134- Title
- Growing from Seed. Volume 2.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rice. G. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Thompson and Morgan.
- Year
- 1988
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.
]. Species that come from high altitudes appreciate 6 - 8 weeks cold stratification at 2°c[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. 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[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
