Tree identification manual - North East Downs Landcare Group

Sydney bluegum
Botanical name
Eucalyptus saligna
Areas
4
Usual flowering time
Spring - Summer
Distribution
South East corner of Queensland to Southern NSW. Best development is on heavy but good quality soils,
especially those derived from shales in higher rainfall areas.
Description
Height: Up to 40 metres.
Bark: Smooth throughout, shed in long strips, leaving a white to blue-grey, powdered surface, or with
rough bark persisting at the base.
Leaves: Paler lower surface, long, narrow, smooth, alternating along the branch.
Inflorescence: Flowers, 4-9 usually 7 flowers on short stalks or stalkless.
Fruit: Medium sized gum nuts with exposed teeth which point outwards.
Distinctive features
Large tee, with smooth, almost shining bark and rough basal bark stocking to 3m up the trunk of mature
trees. The tree canopy is usually quite open and lower branches do not persist.
Vegetation community
Layered open forest including tallowwood, stringybarks and bloodwood.
Associated soils
Soils vary from shallow to deep, friable, highly permeable lateritic red earths.
Local example
This species is found around Pechey to Toowoomba. Good specimens can be found in the park opposite the
Hampton store mixed with tallowwood and blackbutt.
NOTES: Fast growing tree not suited as shade tree but of some use for wildlife habitat.
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