If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Tropical Plants

Gmelina leichhardtii

(F.Muell.) Benth.

Lamiaceae


The name of this species is often spelt Gmelina leichardtii. We are following the treatment in the Flora of Australia[
286
Title
Flora of Australia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/abif/flora/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The full information from the Flora of Australia - on-line. An excellent resource.
] and A Revision of the Genus Gmelina (Lamiaceae)[
1007
Title
A revision of the genus Gmelina (Lamiaceae)
Publication
Kew Bulletin Vol. 67: 293 - 329
Author
de Kok, Rogier
Website
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/236278737
Publisher
 
Year
2012
ISBN
1874-933X
Description
A detailed revision, it also often gives plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
], that use the spelling with two h's[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Tectona australis W.Hill

Vitex leichardtii F.Muell.

Common Name: White Beech

Gmelina leichhardtii
Looking up the trunk into the canopy of a 30 metre tall tree
Photograph by: Poyt448
Public domain
Gmelina leichhardtii Gmelina leichhardtii Gmelina leichhardtii Gmelina leichhardtii Gmelina leichhardtii Gmelina leichhardtii

General Information

White beech is a tall, semi-deciduous tree with an open, spreading crown; it usually grows up to 30 metres tall, though one specimen has been measured at 59 metres. The bole is often irregular, moderately buttressed at the base and can be 200 - 260cm in diameter. The leaves are semi-transparent in the sunlight[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
,
694
Title
Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6
Publication
 
Author
Nicholson N. & H.
Publisher
Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales.
Year
2007
ISBN
9-78095894-3628
Description
Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber, which is used locally and also traded. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental in parks and large gardens[
694
Title
Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6
Publication
 
Author
Nicholson N. & H.
Publisher
Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales.
Year
2007
ISBN
9-78095894-3628
Description
Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

1007
Title
A revision of the genus Gmelina (Lamiaceae)
Publication
Kew Bulletin Vol. 67: 293 - 329
Author
de Kok, Rogier
Website
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/236278737
Publisher
 
Year
2012
ISBN
1874-933X
Description
A detailed revision, it also often gives plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

Australia - southern coastal areas of New South Wales to coastal areas of central Queensland.

Habitat

Found on a wide range of sites from near creek banks to the side of mountains, at elevations from near sea level to 500 metres[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].

Properties

Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitSemi-deciduous Tree
Height25.00 m
Growth RateMedium
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland, moist tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 26 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 36°c[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. Mature plants can be killed by temperatures of -5°c or lower, but new growth will be severely damaged at 0°c[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 1,800mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 2,000mm[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].
Prefers a sunny position, tolerating some shade[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. Succeeds in a wide range of moderately fertile, well-drained soils[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7.5[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].
A moderately fast growing plant[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].

Edible Uses

The bluish-purple, almost globular fruit is 11 - 20mm long and 13 - 15mm wide. We have no reports of edibility, but it is reported to have a disagreeable taste[
1007
Title
A revision of the genus Gmelina (Lamiaceae)
Publication
Kew Bulletin Vol. 67: 293 - 329
Author
de Kok, Rogier
Website
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/236278737
Publisher
 
Year
2012
ISBN
1874-933X
Description
A detailed revision, it also often gives plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is light grey-brown, the grain somewhat interlocked and soft. The wood is very durable and resistant to termites. It is easy to work, somewhat oily and hence difficult to glue, tends to rust nails and is very slow drying. It is excellent for templates, pattern making, carving and turnery. Also used for indoor joinery, flooring, cabinet and carriage work, planking of boat hulls, and in making food processing equipment[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].

Propagation

Seed - remove the flesh from the seed capsule and leave the capsule in the sun to dry. Hairline cracks will form around a 'trapdoor' in the capsule and the whole capsule can then be sown. The up to 4 seeds in the capsule should germinate rapidly[
694
Title
Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6
Publication
 
Author
Nicholson N. & H.
Publisher
Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales.
Year
2007
ISBN
9-78095894-3628
Description
Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-14. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Gmelina+leichhardtii>

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.