Until 1977, this species was not treated as a species distinct from Eucalyptus alba. Because Eucalyptus alba has been widely cultivated throughout the world (also under the name Eucalyptus decaisneana), there is some confusion about the true nature of several provenances[]. The occurrence of hybrids between Eucalyptus alba and Eucalyptus urophylla, as well as between the latter and Eucalyptus saligna or Eucalyptus tereticornis heightens the confusion[].

Common Name: Timor White Gum

General Information

Eucalyptus urophylla is an evergreen tree growing 35 - 45 metres tall, occasionally reaching 55 metres. In unfavourable conditions it is sometimes only a gnarled shrub[]. The bole is straight, can be free of branches for up to 30 metres, and is up to 200cm in diameter[].
An important source of heavy timber, the tree is increasingly being cultivated as a plantation crop in several tropical areas of the world[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - eastern Indonesia.

Habitat

Frequently occurs as the dominant species in open, often secondary montane forests, where it grows on mountain slopes and in valleys; at elevations up to 3,000 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	40.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects, Birds
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus urophylla is a plant of humid and sub-humid tropical areas, where it is found at elevations from sea level up to 3,000 metres[]. It is found in areas with a mean annual temperature of 24 - 28°c and a mean annual rainfall of 700 - 2,500 mm[]. In its natural range the rainfall is monsoonal with 2 - 8 dry months per year[].
Develops best on deep, moist, well-drained, acidic or neutral soils derived from volcanic or metamorphic rock[]. It is also commonly found on basalt, schist and slates, but rarely on limestone[]. It tolerates poor soils as long as the texture is loose[].
A fast-growing tree, especially when young. Trees in one planting had reached an average height of 27 metres when 8 years old[].
Flowering usually starts within 2 years from planting[], and good seed production starts around the age of 4 years[]..
The tree has good coppicing ability and can be expected to produce at least 3 coppice rotations after the initial seedling rotation[].
Eucalyptus species have not adopted a deciduous habit and continue to grow until it is too cold for them to do so. This makes them more susceptible to damage from sudden cold snaps. If temperature fluctuations are more gradual, as in a woodland for example, the plants have the opportunity to stop growing and become dormant, thus making them more cold resistant. A deep mulch around the roots to prevent the soil from freezing also helps the trees to survive cold conditions. The members of this genus are remarkably adaptable however, there can be a dramatic increase in the hardiness of subsequent generations from the seed of survivors growing in temperate zones[].
Eucalyptus monocultures are an environmental disaster, they are voracious, allelopathic and encourage the worst possible attitudes to land use and conservation[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The species is useful in protecting river banks and for providing shade[].
Because it has no major soil requirements, it is increasingly being used in reforestation programmes, both in flooded soils and in dry soils in tropical lowlands[, ].

Other Uses

The bark has a tannin content of over 10%, but it is not used commercially[].

The leaves yield a pale yellow essential oil. The major components of the oil are cymene (up to 76% in some forms), pinene (7 - 20%), 1,8-cineole (up to 40%) and gamma terpenene (4%). The essential oil is a good source of cymene, which possesses disinfectant properties and is utilized in soapmaking and in the perfumery industry[, ].

The heartwood is pinkish-brown to red-brown, and contains little gum[]. It is moderately durable, comparatively light compared to other Eucalypts, fairly easy to saw[]. It is used in heavy construction, bridging, flooring and framing. The round wood is used for building poles and fence posts[]. It is particularly suitable as a source of mid-density to low-density eucalypt fibre for pulp and paper production[].
It makes satisfactory fuel wood and charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - 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 10 - 12 weeks[].
The seed has a long viability[].
Rooted cuttings derived from stump sprouts are also used in raising E. Urophylla. After coppicing, when the new sprouts are 60 - 80 cm long, they are removed and divided into cuttings with 2 pairs of leaves[].
In Indonesia, tissue culture has proved successful on an experimental scale[].

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