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Eucalyptus camaldulensis - Dehnh.

Common Name Red River Gum, Murray Red Gum, River Red Eucalyptus
Family Myrtaceae
USDA hardiness 8-12
Known Hazards Citronellal, an essential oil found in most Eucalyptus species is reported to be mutagenic when used in isolation[269]. In large doses, oil of eucalyptus, like so many essential oils has caused fatalities from intestinal irritation[269]. Death is reported from ingestion of 4 - 24 ml of essential oils, but recoveries are also reported for the same amount[269]. Symptoms include gastroenteric burning and irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, oxygen deficiency, ,weakness, dizziness, stupor, difficult respiration, delirium, paralysis, convulsions, and death, usually due to respiratory failure[269].
Habitats Sandy to heavy soils[77], usually along the banks of streams[167].
Range Australia - in all mainland states.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Wet Soil Full sun
Eucalyptus camaldulensis Red River Gum, Murray Red Gum, River Red  Eucalyptus


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Eucalyptus camaldulensis Red River Gum, Murray Red Gum, River Red  Eucalyptus
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Summary

Bloom Color: White, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Irregular or sprawling, Oval.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Eucalyptus camaldulensis is an evergreen Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry moist or wet soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

E. rostratus. Schlecht. non Cav.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy; Secondary; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses: Gum  Gum

Seed[144]. No further details are given but the seed is very small, not much bigger than a speck of dust[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antidiarrhoeal  Antiinflammatory  Antiseptic  Aromatic  Astringent  Disinfectant  Skin  Tonic


Eucalyptus leaves are a traditional Aboriginal herbal remedy. The essential oil found in the leaves is a powerful antiseptic and is used all over the world for relieving coughs and colds, sore throats and other infections[254]. The essential oil is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter cold remedies[254]. The plant is an aromatic, astringent, tonic herb that sticks to the teeth and turns the saliva red[238]. The report says that the leaves, essential oil and oleo-resin are used[238], but does not specify which properties apply to the different parts of the plant[K]. The leaves and the oil will have very similar properties, the oil being much stronger in its effect since it is distilled from the leaves[K]. Detailed below is how the oleo-resin and oil are commonly used in other species[K]. The essential oil obtained from various species of eucalyptus is a very powerful antiseptic, especially when it is old, because ozone is formed in it on exposure to air. It has a decided disinfectant action, destroying the lower forms of life[4]. The oil can be used externally, applied to cuts, skin infections etc, it can also be inhaled for treating blocked nasal passages, it can be gargled for sore throat and can also be taken internally for a wide range of complaints[4]. Some caution is advised, however, because like all essential oils, it can have a deleterious effect on the body in larger doses[4]. An oleo- resin is exuded from the tree[238]. It can also be obtained from the tree by making incisions in the trunk[4, 152]. This resin contains tannin and is powerfully astringent, it is used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea and bladder inflammation[4, 152, 238], externally it is applied to cuts etc[4, 152]. Treats throat ailments[156].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Biomass  Disinfectant  Essential  Fencing  Furniture  Gum  Gum  Resin  Shelterbelt  Soil stabilization  Soil stabilization  Tannin  Wood  Wood

A gum is obtained from the plant. It is used medicinally and in tanning[156, 171]. The leaves contain 0.1 - 0.4% essential oil, 77% of which is cineol There is some cuminal, phellandrene, aromadendren (or aromadendral), and some valerylaldehyde, geraniol, cymene, and phellandral[269]. The leaves contain 5 - 11% tannin. The kino contains 45% kinotannic acid as well as kino red, a glycoside, catechol, and pyrocatechol[269]. The leaves and fruits test positive for flavonoids and sterols[269]. The bark contains 2.5 - 16% tannin, the wood 2 - 14%, and the kino 46.2 - 76.7%[269]. A fast growing tree with wide-ranging roots, it can be planted in soil stabilization schemes and can also be planted in marshy land where it will help in draining the land, thereby destroying a potential breeding site for mosquitoes[50]. It is planted in S. Italy for this purpose. The wood, durable, easy to saw, yet resistant to termites, is widely used in Australia for strong durable construction, interior finish, flooring, cabinetry, furniture, fence posts, cross-ties, sometimes pulpwood[269]. Australian aborigines made canoes from the bark[269]. According to NAS (1980a), annual wood yields are around 20 - 25 m3/ha in Argentina, 30 m3 from Israel, 17 - 20 from Turkey in the first rotation, and 25 - 30 in subsequent coppice rotations[269]. On poor arid sites yields are only 2 - 11 m3 on 14 or 15 year rotations[269].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Coppice  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Agroforestry Services: Windbreak  Global Crop  Industrial Crop: Biomass  Industrial Crop: Tannin  Management: Coppice  Management: Standard  Other Systems: SRC

Landscape Uses:Aggressive surface roots possible, Specimen. Prefers a sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained moisture retentive circum-neutral soil[200]. Succeeds in most soils[167], tolerating poor and dry soils, especially those low in mineral elements[200]. A drought resistant tree once established[77, 200], it is slightly salt tolerant[77], and can also withstand periodic inundation[77]. A very fast growing tree[77]. Plants tolerate an annual precipitation of 103 to 206cm and an annual temperature range of 18.0 to 26.6°C[269]. It is reported to grow in areas with only 20cm rainfall, but the lower limit for commercial plantations is 40cm. Some provenances tolerate many different soil conditions such as high calcium, high salt and periodic water-logging[269].The mean maximum temperature of the warmest month where it grows well is ca 29°C. The dry season lasts 4 - 8 months or more and may be severe[269]. Fairly frost resistant, plants survive temperatures down to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[77, 157]. This figure is not directly relatable to British gardens, however, because of our cooler summers and colder, wetter winters. It could be worthwhile giving this species a try in the milder areas of the country[K]. Some Provenances can tolerate temperatures down to about -5°C and up to 20 frosts per year[269]. 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[200]. The members of this genus are remarkably adaptable however, there can be a dramatic increase in the hardiness of subsequent generations from the seed of survivors growing in temperate zones[200]. Trees are liable to shed branches, especially in hot weather[167]. This is said to be the most widely distributed eucalyptus tree in Australia, ranging over 23° lat. in most of arid and semiarid Australia but not the humid eastern and south-western coasts. It is regarded as one of the most widely planted eucalypts in the world with more than 500,000 ha planted[269]. It is planted in Europe, especially in Italy, as a timber crop, for soil stabilization and as an anti-malarial measure[50]. Some provenances coppice well for six or more rotations, on good sites, plantations are managed on coppice rotations of 7 - 10 years[269]. Eucalyptus monocultures are an environmental disaster, they are voracious, allelopathic and encourage the worst possible attitudes to land use and conservation[200]. 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[245]. They strongly resent root disturbance and should be container grown before planting out into their permanent position[11]. Survivalists in Australia and elsewhere might learn how the aborigines obtained water from the superficial roots, usually those ca 3 cm in diameter. The roots were excavated or lifted to the soil surface. Then the root was cut into segments ca 45 cm long, debarked, held vertically, and blown into, the water then draining into the receptacle provided[269]. The flowers are rich in nectar and are a good bee crop[200]. Special Features:Fragrant foliage, Not North American native, Attractive flowers or blooms.

Carbon Farming

  • Agroforestry Services: Windbreak  Linear plantings of trees and shrubs designed to enhance crop production, protect people and livestock and benefit soil and water conservation.
  • Global Crop  These crops are already grown or traded around the world. The annual value of each is more than $1 billion US Examples include coconuts, almonds, and bananas.
  • Industrial Crop: Biomass  Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels
  • Industrial Crop: Tannin  Occur generally in the roots, wood, bark, leaves, and fruit of many plants. Used in tanning leather, dyeing fabric, making ink, and medical applications.
  • Management: Coppice  Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Other Systems: SRC  Short-rotation coppice.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - surface sow February/March in a sunny position in a greenhouse[11, 78, 134]. Species that come from high altitudes appreciate 6 - 8 weeks cold stratification at 2°c[200]. 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 June, the young trees being planted in their final positions in late spring of the following year. The seed has a long viability[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Gum, Murray Red Gum, River Red Eucalyptus, River Red, australian kino, australian red gum, botany bay kino, eucalyptus kino, kino australiensis

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Australia, Africa, Algeria, Asia, Australia*, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Canary Islands, Caucasus, Central Africa, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Guyana, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mediterranean, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, North Africa, North America, Oman, Panama, Portugal, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, Sudan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

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12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Dehnh.

Botanical References

1177200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Readers comment

   Thu Jun 23 19:07:55 2005

CAN YOU HEAR WATER IN THIS TREE?

Peter Gibbons   Thu Jan 19 2006

Find additional information about this plant at SunnyGardens.com

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