Common Name: Yapunyah

General Information

Eucalyptus ochrophloia is an evergreen tree usually growing 6 - 15 metres tall, occasionally to 20 metres. The bole is often short and may be divided into two or more large stems 3 - 5 metres above the ground[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood. An attractive ornamental, also providing light shade and shelter[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - northwestern New South Wales, southwestern Queensland

Habitat

Found mainly in draniage channels, depressions, and on periodically flooded plains, sometimes on stony hills; at elevations from 100 - 400 metres[, ]. Grassy woodland on heavy calcareous soils along broad flat seasonal watercourses[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus ochrophloia is native to the arid and semi-arid climate of eastern central Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 400 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 37°c, but can tolerate 10 - 42°c[]. The plant can experience from 1 - 10 frosts a year and, when dormant, it can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, although young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 250 - 600mm, but tolerates 150 - 800mm[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a range of heavy to medium-textured soils of low to moderate fertility[]. Established plants are tolerant of drought and also of rseasonal inundation of the soil[, ]. Prefers a pH in the range 7 - 8, tolerating 6.5 - 8.5[].
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[].
Trees coppice well[].
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[]. Many members of this genus are remarkably adaptable however, and there can be a dramatic increase in the hardiness of subsequent generations from the seed of survivors growing in temperate zones[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are a good source of nectar for bees[, ].

Other Uses

The dry leaves contain 4.3% essential oil. The main components are alpha and beta-pinene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, p-cymene, alpha-terpineol, citronellol, globulol, alpha, beta anf gamma-eudesmol[]

The brownish wood is heavy, hard, close-grained and durable. It is suitable for fencing, and heavy construction timber[, , ].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow late winter/early spring in a sunny position in a greenhouse[, , ]. 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. Plant out into their permanent positions in early summer and give them some protection from the cold in their first winter. The seed can also be sown in early summer, the young trees being planted in their final positions in late spring of the following year. The seed has a long viability[].