Eucalyptus leucoxylon
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| Yellow Gum, (South Australian) Blue Gum, White Ironbark | ||||||||||||||
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 Eucalyptus leucoxylon, Melbourne
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| Eucalyptus leucoxylon |
Eucalyptus leucoxylon, Yellow Gum, (South Australian) Blue Gum, White Ironbark is a small to medium-sized tree with rough bark on the lower 1-2 metres of the trunk, above this, the bark becomes smooth with a white, yellow or bluish-grey surface. Adult leaves are stalked, lanceolate to broad-lanceolate, to 13 x 2.5 cm, concolorous, dull, green.
Flowers in white, pink or red appear during winter.
E. leucoxylon is widely distributed on plains and nearby mountain ranges or coastal South Australia, where it is known as the Blue Gum and extends into the western half of Victoria where it is known as the Yellow gum.
The species has been divided into numerous varieties and subspecies. A spectactular red-flowered form of uncertain provenance Eucalyptus leucoxylon ‘Rosea’ is widely planted as an ornamental plant, it flowers profusely in winter.[1]
The leaves are distilled for the production of cineole based eucalyptus oil.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Brooker, M.I.H. & Kleinig, D.A. Field Guide to Eucalyptus, Bloomings, Melbourne 2001
- ^ Boland, D.J., Brophy, J.J., and A.P.N. House, Eucalyptus Leaf Oils, 1991, ISBN 0-909605-69-6
