Common Name: Grey Gum

General Information

Eucalyptus punctata is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 35 metres tall with a bole that can be up to 100cm in diameter. On good sites the tree has a straight bole and a good form, while on poor soils it is likely to have a short bole and a deep, much branched crown[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of wood. The plant is also an ingredient of commercial cosmetic preparations.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - New South Wales, southeastern Queensland

Habitat

A widespread plant, it is found in most soils and sites[], but mainly on sandy soils and shales in wetter areas[]. Low hillls and ridges[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus punctata is native to the warm temperate and subtropical climate of Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. Rainfall can occur all year round or only in the summer, with a mean annual rainfall within the range 625 - 1,250mm and a dry season that is not usually severe of up to 4 months. The mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 27 - 32°c; mean minimum temperature of the coldest month is 4 - 5°c, and there are generally few frosts a year, none of which are severe[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at 0°c[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a range of light to medium-textured, well-drained soils of low to moderate fertility[]. Tolerates poor and dry soils, especially those low in mineral elements[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7[].
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[].
A polymorphic species[].
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[].
The flowers are rich in nectar and are a good bee crop[].

Edible Uses

A sweet-tasting edible manna is obtained from the stem[].

Medicinal

Kino resin, obtained from the trunk, is very astringent. Diluted, it can be 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. It can be used as a gargle and mouthwash to treat relaxed throat, loose teeth[, ].
Applied externally as a wash, it is an effective styptic and can used to treat cuts and skin problems[].

Other Uses

The fresh leaves contain 0.2 - 2.3% essential oil. The main components are alpha and beta-pinene, myrcene, alpha-terpinene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, pcymene, menthyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol, cryptone, alpha-terpineol, geraniol, cuminal, phellandral[].

An extract of a culture of the leaf cells is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner and skin protector[].

A kino resin is obtained from the trunk[]. 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 heartwood is red, the sapwood pale red. The texture is coarse but uniform, the grain generally interlocked. The wood is hard, heavy, strong, very durable and resistant to termite attack. It is used for heavy engineering construction, poles and railway sleepers[, , ]. A good construction timber, though not quite as good as Eucalyptus propinqua[].

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[].