We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Eucalyptus microtheca - F.Muell.

Common Name Coolabah, Coolibah, Flooded Box, Coolibah
Family Myrtaceae
USDA hardiness 9-12
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 Usually found on seasonally inundated country around the edges of swamps or lagoons, or along watercourses[418 ].
Range Australia - South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Eucalyptus microtheca Coolabah, Coolibah, Flooded Box, Coolibah


wikimedia.org Mark Marathon
Eucalyptus microtheca Coolabah, Coolibah, Flooded Box, Coolibah
wikimedia.org Mark Marathon

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Small to medium tree that can grow large in optimum conditions. Tolerates flooding, heavy soils, alkaline soils and a hot dry site. Great shade tree on larger properties.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Eucalyptus microtheca is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. The flowers are pollinated by Insects, Birds.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Eucalyptus raveretiana jerichoensis Domin

Habitats

Edible Uses

The seeds are powdered and made into cakes which are baked and eaten[301 ]. Sap from the roots is used as an emergency source of water for travellers through dry regions[301 ]. The plant is a source of 'lerp' - a sweet, manna-like substance[301 ]. Lerps are waxy scale-like coverings constructed by the immature stage (nymphs) of several species of sap-sucking insects. They serve as a protection whilst the nymphs are feeding and are left behind when the insect pupates. They were a traditional food of the Australian Aborigines[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.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

The heartwood is reddish-brown or reddish; the sapwood is grey[601 ]. The wood is remarkably hard, heavy and elastic[601 ]. It is useful in construction, though perhaps too hard for cabinet-work; it is used for durable poles, fenceposts, bearings, bolts, shafts, frames and wheels[418 , 601 ]. It is neither very much used nor valued[601 ]. The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[418 ]. The trees have a dense, rounded shape making them wind resistant and useful as windbreaks and to control erosion. They are one of the more commonly planted eucalyptus species in the southwestern United States since they are fast and easy to grow. Able to tolerate full sun, withstand temperatures below freezing and grow in soils with poor fertility makes them easy to grow.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Global Crop  Industrial Crop: Biomass  Management: Coppice  Management: Standard  Other Systems: SRC

A plant of the arid and semiarid tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 24 - 39?c, but can tolerate 5 - 45?c[418 ]. It can be killed by temperatures of -4?c or lower, though new growth will be damaged if the temperature falls to zero[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 250 - 1,---mm, but tolerates 150 - 1,200mm[418 ]. Requires a sunny position[418 ]. Succeeds in most soils of at least moderate fertility[418 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 8, tolerating 6 - 9[418 ]. The plant often experiences inundation for part of the year and is also able to withstand up to 7 months drought[418 ]. A potentially very fast-growing species if there is sufficient water, on suitable sites the growth may reach 3 metres per year[418 ]. Under irrigation it should be possible to grow the tree in deserts[418 ]. The tree can be harvested after 8 years from a seedling crop and after 6 years from subsequent coppice crops[418 ]. Annual wood production potential is 3 - 7 m3/ha[418 ]. The tree is fire tender[418 ]. 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. 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 ]. Eucalyptus monocultures are an environmental disaster, they are voracious, allelopathic and encourage the worst possible attitudes to land use and conservation[200 ]. E. microtheca is most closely related to the widespread Eucalyptus coolabah which is found in similar but drier habitats to the south and south-east It is also closely related to Eucalyptus victrix which is found in even drier habitats from central Australia west to the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Drought tolerant once established

Carbon Farming

  • 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
  • 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

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a sunny position and make sure the compost is not allowed to dry out[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. 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[200 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Coolabah. Coolibah

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

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

Africa, Asia, Australia, India, Iran, Iraq, Morocco, North Africa, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, USA,

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.

None Known

Conservation Status

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

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Corymbia citriodoraLemon-Scented Gum, blue spotted gum, lemon eucalyptus, eucalyptus citriodora.Tree45.0 10-12 FLMHNM234
Eucalyptus brassianaCape York red gumTree20.0 9-11 FLMHNDM004
Eucalyptus caesiaGungurruTree10.0 8-11 FLMHNDMWe20 
Eucalyptus camaldulensisRed River Gum, Murray Red Gum, River Red EucalyptusTree30.0 8-12 FLMHNDMWe134
Eucalyptus citriodoraLemon-Scented Gum, Lemon Scented EucalyptusTree45.0 9-11 FLMHNDMWe132
Eucalyptus cocciferaMt. Wellington PeppermintTree15.0 7-10 FLMHNDMWe002
Eucalyptus delegatensisAlpine ashTree40.0 7-11 FLMHNM033
Eucalyptus dumosaWater MalleeTree7.0 9-11 FLMHNDMWe102
Eucalyptus globulusTasmanian Blue Gum, Eurabbie, Blue Gum, Blue EucalyptusTree55.0 9-11 FLMHNDMWe143
Eucalyptus gomphocephalaTuart. Tuart GumTree40.0 9-11 FLMHNDM004
Eucalyptus grandisFlooded Gum, Gum, Rose EucalyptusTree50.0 9-11 FLMHSNDM024
Eucalyptus gummiferaRed BloodwoodTree15.0 9-11 FLMHNDMWe132
Eucalyptus gunniiCider GumTree30.0 7-10 FLMHNDMWe333
Eucalyptus johnstoniiYellow Gum, Johnston's gumTree60.0 7-10 FLMHNDMWe003
Eucalyptus largiflorensBlack BoxTree18.0 9-11 SLMHNDMWe103
Eucalyptus leucoxylonYellow Gum, White ironbark, White EucalyptusTree15.0 10-11 FLMHNDMWe103
Eucalyptus macrorhynchaRed StringybarkTree45.0 9-11 FLMHNDMWe133
Eucalyptus melliodoraYellow BoxTree30.0 9-11 FLMHNDMWe003
Eucalyptus microcorysTallow Wood, Australian tallowwoodTree45.0 9-11 FLMHNDMWe003
Eucalyptus obliquaMessmateTree60.0 8-12 FLMHNDMWe004
Eucalyptus paucifloraCabbage Gum, Snow gumTree12.0 7-10 FLMHNDMWe003
Eucalyptus pauciflora niphophilaSnow GumTree6.0 6-9 FLMHNDMWe033
Eucalyptus perrinianaSpinning GumTree6.0 7-10 FLMHNDMWe002
Eucalyptus piperitaSydney PeppermintTree18.0 9-11 FLMHNDMWe023
Eucalyptus polybracteaBlue MalleeTree6.0 - FLMHNDMWe133
Eucalyptus punctataGrey GumTree30.0 8-11 FLMHNDMWe10 
Eucalyptus racemosaSnappy GumTree0.0 - FLMHNDMWe03 
Eucalyptus regnansMountain AshTree75.0 8-11 FLMHNDMWe003
Eucalyptus robustaSwamp Mahogany, Eucalyptus GumTree30.0 8-12 FLMHSNDM034
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.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

F.Muell.

Botanical References

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

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Eucalyptus microtheca  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.