Common Name: Gungunnu

General Information

Eucalyptus caesia is an evergreen multi-stemmed shrub that can grow up to 10 metres tall.
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. An attractive ornamental plant[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - southwestern Western Australia

Habitat

Granite outcrops, succeeding in sands, sandy loams and some clays as well as in areas of low rainfall; at elevations up to 100 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus caesia is native to the arid and semi-arid climate of southwestern Australia. Rainfall occurs mainly in the winter, with a mean annual rainfall of around 200 - 300mm. There are generally up to 10 frosts a year, with temperatures occasionally falling as low as -7°c[].
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 tolerant plant once established[], but it is not very wind resistant[].
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[].
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[].
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[].

Edible Uses

Bark of young roots - baked and then ground. A sweet malt-like flavour[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are rich in nectar and are a good bee crop[].

Other Uses

An essential oil is obtained from the leaves. 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 0.5 - 0.8% essential oil. The main components include aromadendrene (up to 27%), globulol, torquatone (up to 29%), alpha-pinene (up to 14%)[].

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[].