Eucalyptus miniata

A.Cunn. ex Schauer

Darwin Woolybutt, Manowan, Northern Woollybutt

Myrtaceae Edible: Seeds, Nectar 199 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Eucalyptus miniata, commonly known as the Darwin woollybutt or woolewoorrng, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has rough, fibrous, brownish bark on the trunk, smooth greyish bark above. Adult leaves are lance-shaped, the flower buds are ribbed and arranged in groups of seven, the flowers orange or scarlet and the fruit is cylindrical to barrel-shaped or urn-shaped, with ribs along the sides.

Description

An erect tree. It grows 10-30 m tall and has a tall trunk. It can spread 10-20 m wide. The lower bark is dark. It is loose, rough and papery and peels off to reveal smooth white bark. The young growth has a whitish bloom. The leaves are leathery and sword shaped. The blade is 8-15 cm long and 2-6 cm wide. The flowers are orange in clusters of about 7. These are on thick stalks in the axils of leaves. The fruit are ribbed. They are barrel shaped woody capsules. They are 3-6 cm long by 2-5 cm wide.

Edible Uses

The seeds and nectar are eaten.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in tropics in Australia. They grow on well-drained soils. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It grows in sandy forest country.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Eucalyptus miniata is native to the tropical climate of northern Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 300 metres. Summers are hot and moist, with dry winters and a dry season of around 7 months. Mean annual rainfall is within the range 750 - 1,500mm; mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 35°c; mean minimum temperature of the coldest month is 5°c, and there are generally no frosts. Eucalyptus species generally require a sunny position, succeeding in a wide range of well-drained, circumneutral soils of low to moderate fertility. 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.

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

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 1.0% (0.2 - 1.2% dry weight) essential oil. The main components include pinene (up to 85'% in some forms) and 1,8-cineole. The red to red-brown wood is hard, not very durable, the insides of the trees are often eaten out by termites. The wood is generally only used locally.

Notes

There are at least 500 Eucalyptus species mostly originally in Australia.

Synonyms

Eudesmia

Also Known As

Andalanjdjarr, Djamadobdob, Mantiyurlaka, Timirraringa

References (23)

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Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 436
Brock, J., 1993, Native Plants of Northern Australia, Reed. p 171
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 200
Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 201

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