Common Name: White-Topped Box

General Information

Eucalyptus quadrangulata is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 50 metres tall, with a bole up to 150cm in diameter. In open situations the tree often retain its branches to near ground level, while in forests it often has a long, straight bole[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - eastern New south Wales, southeastern Queensland

Habitat

Tall wet forest on shallower usually sloping soils of medium fertility on higher eastern fall of tablelands; at elevations from 100 - 900 metres[, ].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	40.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus quadrangulata is native to the moist warm temperate to subtropical climate of eastern Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 900 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 17 - 27°c, but can tolerate 8 - 36°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -10°c, but young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,100 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 900 - 1,700mm[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a range of heavy to medium-textured, well-drained soils of high to moderate fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5[].
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[].
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

Other Uses

The fresh leaves contain from 0.7 - 2.1% essential oil. Quantities and content can vary significanly within the species, but the main components are alpha-pinene (up to 25% in some forms), 1,8-cineole (up to 55%), eudesmol (up to 40%) and gamma-terpinene (up to 19%)[].

The heartwood is pale yellow-brown, fine-textured, very hard and very durable. It is used for both light and heavy engineering construction, poles and sleepers[, ].

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[].