Tree identification manual - North East Downs Landcare Group

Yellow box
Botanical name
Eucalyptus melliodora
Areas
3, 4 & 5
Usual flowering time
October - December
Distribution
On light soils, mainly in the southern part of the Darling Downs district, occasionally on the ranges in the
Moreton and Burnett districts.
Description
Height: Up to 24 metres.
Bark: On the lower trunk is grey, fibrous and wrinkled to flaky (box-like) and bright yellow internally
towards the sapwood. Bark is deciduous, smooth, light grey or greenish on the upper portion.
Leaves: Narrow, drooping, greyish green and dull.
Inflorescence: Flowers are usually white, on slender stalks in clusters on main stalks amongst the leaves.
Fruit: Large gum nuts with concealed valves.
Distinctive features
Half-barked appearance with a bright yellow inner bark compared to pink underbark found in forest red gum
with which it can be confused. Has a spreading crown and a short trunk.
Vegetation community
Layered open forest to open forest of ironbark forest red gum and grey box.
Associated soils
Soils vary from loamy lithosols grading into moderately deep grey brown texture contrast soils of low
fertility. Large areas of this community have been cleared to improve native pasture growth. Improved
pastures, partially lucerne, have also been planted. Excessive clearing associated with over-grazing is leading
to serious erosion of many of the soils associated with this community.
Local example
There is a yellow box outside the tourist information centre in Oakey.
NOTES: Yellow box is of some use for fencing timber. It is a good shade tree and is very good for honey
production.
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