Eucalyptus resinifera
J. White
Kino eucalyptus, Red mahogany
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Dean Nicolle, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Dean Nicolle
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Dean Nicolle, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Dean Nicolle
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Dean Nicolle, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Dean Nicolle
Summary
Source: WikipediaEucalyptus resinifera, commonly known as red mahogany or red messmate, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree endemic to coastal areas of eastern Australia. It has rough, stringy or fibrous bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and hemispherical, conical or cup-shaped fruit.
Description
An erect tree. It grows 20-45 m high. The trunk is 150 cm across. The bark id reddish-brown. The leaves are sword shaped and 9-16 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. The flowers are white. The fruit are gumnuts that are half round. They are 5-11 mm long.
Edible Uses
The sap can be consumed as a sweet drink, and the plant produces an edible manna that can be harvested as an exudate.
Traditional Uses
The sap produces a sweet drink. The plant also produces an edible manna.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
A kino resin is obtained from the trunk. It is astringent. Kino 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. The inner bark has been rubbed onto the skin in the treatment of venereal disease.
Distribution
It grows in areas with an annual rainfall below 1,000 mm. It grows below 900 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.
Where It Grows
Africa, Andaman Is., Asia, Australia*, Cuba, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe, France, Hawaii, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Mediterranean, Myanmar, Nicobar Is., North Africa, Pacific, Paraguay, Portugal, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, Zimbabwe,
Cultivation
Eucalyptus resinifera is a plant of the moist tropics to the subtropics and warm temperate zones, where it is found at elevations up to 2,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 16 - 34°c, but can tolerate 6 - 38°c. It can be killed by temperatures of -4°c or lower, though new growth can be damaged by temperatures around zero. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 2,500mm, but tolerates 800 - 3,000mm. Requires a sunny position, though young trees can tolerate some shade. Succeeds in most soils, so long as they are well-drained. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 6.5, tolerating 5.5 - 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. Trees can be coppiced. Annual wood production potential is 5 - 20 cubic metres per hectarea. 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.
Propagation
Seed - surface sow in a sunny position and make sure the compost is not allowed to dry out. 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. The seedlings are ready for planting in the field when they are 25 - 30 cm tall, usually after 3 - 4 months. The seed has a long viability.
Other Uses
Kino (a red substance resembling resin) is obtained from the tree. Rich in tannins, it is readily soluble in water producing a clear solution. It can be used as an astringent in medicine and for tanning. The bark is a source of tannins. 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 up to 0.7% essential oil. The main components include pinene, 1,8-cineole (around 72& in some forms), . The heartwood is dark red; the sapwood pale pink. The wood is moderately coarse-textured; the grain somewhat interlocked. The wood is strong, tough, hard and durable in the soil. It is easy to work and finishes well. Much prized for its strength and durability, it is considered to be one of the best Australian hardwoods and is used for piles, flooring, cladding, panelling, sills, bridge decking, boat building, railway sleepers and general construction purposes. The wood is used for fuel and for making charcoal. The flowers are a good source of nectar and pollen for bees.
Synonyms
References (5)
- Donkin,
- Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 141
- Kew Plants of the World Online
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999). Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Published on the Internet; http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal/internet [Accessed 4th May 2011]
- J. White R.N., J. Voy. N.S.W. 231, t. 16. 1790
