Eucalyptus pellita is reported in several publications to have two widely separated areas of occurrence in Australia: A northern form is found within a latitudinal range of 12 - 18°S in the tropical climate of Cape York Peninsula, Queensland; whilst a southern form is found from 27 - 36°S in the subtropical and warm temperate climate from near Fraser Island, Queensland, to south of Bateman's Bay in New South Wales. Some other reports only show the species as growing at the northern location, and the Flora of New South Wales does not show this species as being native in New South Wales.
We are, at present, treating the species as being present at both locations[]..

Common Name: Red Mahogany

General Information

Eucalyptus pellita is an evergreen tree with a large, heavily branched crown; it can grow up to 40 metres tall. The best specimens have a straight bole up to half the total height of the tree and up to 100cm in diameter. On poorer sites the tree can be reduced to a 5 - 10 metre tall shrub[, ].
It has been planted for timber in many areas of the subtropics and tropics, including Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, India, Kenya, Congo and Brazil[]. It is widely planted as an ornamental in parks[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - New South Wales, Queensland.

Habitat

Open forests with other Eucalyptus species; tall sclerophyll forest; rainforest margins. On gentle to moderate slopes, sometimes on steep, well-drained slopes, occasionally by small streams in the drier and hotter areas; at elevations to 800 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	35.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus pellita is found in two widely separated areas of Australia. In the tropical climate of Queensland it is found at latitudes 12 - 18°S, whilst in the subtropics of New South Wales it is found at 27 - 36°S. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature ranges from a cool month of 4 - 19°c to a hot month of 24 - 34°c; the mean annual rainfall is within the range 900 - 4,000mm and there is all year round or summer rainfall. The species, especially when obtained from its southern provenance, is moderately frost resistant[].
Requires a sunny position[]. Grows best in well-drained soils ranging from shallow sands on sandstone ridges to shallow sandy podzols and deep forest loams[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5.5 - 7.5[].
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[].
A fast-growing tree, it can reach a height of 13 - 15 metres in 3.5 years, and an be grown on 4 - 8 years coppice rotations[].
Whilst most Eucalyptus species, grown in small numbers outside their native range, can be an attractive and useful addition to the landscape, certain species (including this one) are more problematic. When grown in monocultures, especially outside their native range, they can become an environmental disaster. They are voracious, especially in their use of water; they are allelopathic, inhibiting the growth of the native flora; they reduce habitats for native fauna; and encourage the worst possible attitudes to land use and conservation[].
Recommended for planting only on well-drained, sandy soils where at an early stage it forms a dense crown
that shades out weeds once it is established[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are a minor source of thin, strong-flavoured honey. They provide large quantities of pollen for bee colonies[].
The large, heavily branched crown makes this species suitable for providing shade and for use as a windbreak[].
The tree has been recommended for afforestation of coastal lands[].

Other Uses

The essential oil is essentially monoterpenoid but rather variable. The major components are alpha-pinene (20 - 51%), limonene (11 - 44%), gamma-terpinene (0.2 - 23%), rho-cymene (0.3 - 11%), beta-pinene (2 - 6%) and terpinolene (0.5 - 3%). Total oil yield is about 0.1%[].
In Cuba, pure essential oils extracted from the foliage were found to have a highly repellent effect on the ant Wasmannia auropunctata, a pest of both forest plantations and plantation and fruit crops. The effect remained throughout the 96 hours during which the observations were made[].

The heartwood is red to dark red; the sapwood is pale pink. The grain is somewhat interlocked, the texture is coarse. The wood is strong and durable, moderately heavy with a density of 990 kg/cubic metres. It is not difficult to work and finishes well. It has a wide range of uses for buildings, heavy construction, flooring, panelling, and heavy ornamental work. The timber is similar to that of red mahogany, Eucalyptus resinifera[]..
The wood is a good source of fuel and charcoal[].

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[]. 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[].

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