Common Name: Blackbutt

General Information

Eucalyptus pilularis is an evergreen tree with a dense crown; it can grow 60 - 70 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be unbranched for up to 65% of the total height of the tree and up to 250 - 300cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. This is one of the three most important hardwoods of Australia, commonly harvested from the wild and also cultivated. It has been planted for timber in Nigeria, DR Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar and South Africa, but nowhere on a large scale[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - New South Wales, Queensland.

Habitat

Widespread and often dominant, in wet sclerophyll or grassy coastal forest on lighter soils of medium fertility; at elevations up to 700 metres[, ].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	55.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus pilularis is native to the temperate and subtropical climate of eastern Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 700 metres. Rainfall can occur in the summer only, ot all year round, with a mean annual rainfall within the range 1,000 - 1,500mm and a dry season of 3 - 4 months. The mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 29 - 32°c; mean minimum temperature of the coldest month is 5 - 6°c, and there are generally around 5 - 15 frosts a year[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -6°c, but young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at 0°c[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a range of heavy to medium-textured, well-drained soils of high to moderate fertility[]. Found in the wild on sandy loams or loams, but able to adapt to clays and volcanic soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7[].
A fast-growing tree[].
Trees do not coppice reliably[].
Whilst most Eucalyptus 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[].
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

Kino resin, obtained from the trunk, is taken internally as an effective treatment for dysentery, working because it is not absorbed at all from the stomach and only very slowly from the intestine, and is thus able to directly treat the lower part of the intestine[].

Other Uses

A kino resin is obtained from the trunk. Kino resins are rich in tannins and are very astringent. They can be used medicinally, in tanning, as well as for preserving and dyeing natural fibres. 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.

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 0.1 - 0.8% essential oil. The main components include pinene, phellandrene, 1,8-cineole, cymene, eudesmol[].

The dull, yellow-brown wood is close-grained. It is hard, moderately heavy, strong, tough, moderately durable. There is a marked inequality between the hard and the soft grain which causes an uneven surface after seasoning, also a liability to warp and twist, and sometimes to crack. It is used for construction, bridge building, ships decks, flooring, panelling, poles, posts, railway sleepers and veneer[, , , ].
The wood is very fire-resistant and so does not burn well as a fuel. It is most difficult to light and, even when blazing, the slightest disturbance of the fire sends it black and the fire will readily die out[]. The wood makes a good charcoal[]

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[].