Common Name: Red Bloodwood

General Information

Corymbia gummifera is an evergreen tree with a heavy crown; it can grow up to 35 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 120cm in diameter[].
The tree yields an essential oil that is a commonly used traditional herbal remedy which has also become popular in modern herbalism. The tree is also a source of timber and is often planted, both for the timber and the essential oil. It grows well in Madagascar, especially at low altitudes near the coast, and it has been planted in Kenya and Tanzania[]. It is grown as an ornamental, and makes a useful shade tree[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Australia - northern Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland.

Habitat

Sandy gravelly to loamy sandy soils by the coast and at elevations up to 1,000 metres. Dry sclerophyll forests, mainly on sandstone soils but also sometimes on shales[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Corymbia gummifera is found mainly in the warm temperate to subtropical zones of eastern Australia, where it can be found at elevations up to 500 metres[]. It has also been successfully cultivated in many tropical climates. It grows in a region where the summers are hot and moist and the winters are mild but can be dry or moist. There can be a dry season of up to 3 months. Mean annual rainfall is within the range 750 - 2,000mm; mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 29 - 30°c; mean minimum temperature of the coldest month is 5°c, and there are generally up to 15 frosts a year[].
Prefers a sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained moisture-retentive circum-neutral soil[]. Tolerates poor and dry soils, especially those low in mineral elements[]. A drought resistant plant once established[], it also tolerates saline soils[]. One report suggests that it might be quite wind tolerant, even on the coast[].
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[].
Whilst most Corymbia 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[].
Plants are shallow-rooting and, especially in windy areas, should be planted out into their permanent positions when small to ensure that they do not suffer from wind-rock[]. They strongly resent root disturbance and should be container grown before planting out into their permanent position[].
Corymbia 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

The flowers produce copious amounts of nectar which can be sucked from the flowers or mixed with water to make a sweet drink that is called 'bool' in Australia[].

Medicinal

Corymbia leaves are a traditional Aboriginal herbal remedy. The essential oil found in the leaves is a powerful antiseptic and is used all over the world for relieving coughs and colds, sore throats and other infections[]. The essential oil is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter cold remedies[].

An essential oil obtained from the leaves is antiseptic, astringent and parasiticide[]. It is used in the treatment of various skin complaints[]. The essential oil obtained from various species of eucalyptus is a very powerful antiseptic, especially when it is old, because ozone is formed in it on exposure to air. It has a decided disinfectant action, destroying the lower forms of life[]. The oil can be used externally, applied to cuts, skin infections etc, it can also be inhaled for treating blocked nasal passages, it can be gargled for sore throat and can also be taken internally for a wide range of complaints[]. Some caution is advised, however, because like all essential oils, it can have a deleterious effect on the body in larger doses[].

A kino resin is exuded from the tree[, ]. It can also be obtained from the tree by making incisions in the trunk[, ]. This resin contains tannin and is powerfully astringent, it is used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea and bladder inflammation[, , ].
Applied externally, it is used to treat cuts and sores, including those associated with venereal diseases[, , ].

Agroforestry Uses:

This tree might be suitable as a windbreak near the coast[].
The flowers are rich in nectar and are a good bee crop[].

Other Uses

An essential oil obtained from the leaves has medicinal uses[]. Total quantity of the oil, and its composition, can vary widely from plant to plant, but we have reports that the fresh leaves contain around 0.1 - 0.4% essential oil. The main components include pinene (up to 32% in some forms), bicyclogermacrene (up to 34%), globulol (up to 14%), caryophyllene (6%), torquatone (6%)[].

A bright red kino resin exudes from the bark[1096. Kino resins are rich in tannins and are very astringent. Soluble in water, they can be used medicinally; in tanning; as well as for preserving and dyeing natural fibres. When boiled in an iron pot they produce a thick, dark liquid that can be used as an ink[].
The resin oozes naturally from wounds in the trunk and can be tapped by making incisions in the bark. At first it is a thick liquid, but soon hardens upon exposure to the air and sun, typically drying to an amber-like material that consists of dark red angular fragments, rarely larger than a pea. Freshly exuded kino is more effective than kino that has been on the tree for a long while, since the soluble portion can be more or less washed out and the action of the sun can alter their chemical composition[].

The red wood is strong, hard, very durable in the soil and resistant to termite attack. Frequent gum pockets and rings are a defect, resulting in the wood being used mainly for poles, piles, posts, railway sleepers, mining constructions and hardboard production[, ].
The wood is used for fuel and for charcoal making[].

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[].