An Introduction to the Eucalypts [This information taken from - Chippendale, G.M. Eucalyptus. In: Chippendale, G.M. (1988). Flora of Australia Vol. 19, Myrtaceae, Eucalyptus, Angophora, Australian Government Publising Service, Canberra.]

Eucalyptus melliodora Cunn. ex Schauer

Reference:

Cunn. ex Schauer in W.G.Walpers, Repert. Bot. Syst. 2: 924 (1843).

Type:

T: Bathurst neighbourhood, N.S.W., Nov. 1825, A.Cunningham 57; holo: n.v.; iso: E, G, K, MEL, NSW.

E. patentiflora Miq., Ned. Kruidk. Arch. 4: 125 (1856). T: Melbourne, Vic., F.Mueller; syn n.v.; St Kilda, Vic., F.Mueller; syn: K.

E. caerulescens Naudin, Descr. Emploi Eucalyptus introd. Europe 47 (1891). T: cultivated Bois du Boulogne, Algeria, 14 Feb. 1883, C.Naudi n s.n.; fide J.H.Maiden, Crit. Revis. Eucalyptus 2: 136 (1912); holo: P.

E. forsythii Maiden, Crit. Revis. Eucalyptus 6: 115 (1922). T: Pilliga Scrub, Coonabarabran--Baradine road, N.S.W., Oct. 1899, W.Forsyth s.n.; holo: NSW.

E. melliodora var. brachycarpa Blakely, Key Eucalypts 262 (1934). T: Mt Ainslie, Canberra, A.C.T., collector unknown; syn: n.v.; Gulgong, N.S.W., Apr. 1901, J.H.Maiden; syn: NSW; same locality, I.C.Boorman; syn: NSW.

E. melliodora var. elliptocarpa Blakely, loc. cit. T: Urana, N.S.W., Aug. 1927, J.W.Dwyer s.n.; holo: NSW.

Illustrations:

L.Costermans, Native Trees & Shrubs S.E. Australia 369 (1981); M.I.H.Brooker & D.A.Kleinig, Field Guide to Eucalypts 1: 268 (1983); D.J.Boland et al., Forest Trees Australia 4th edn, 541 (1984).

Description:

Tree to 30 m. Bark fibrous on lower trunk only or up to larger branches, grey, yellow or red-brown, then smooth, white-yellow above. Juvenile leaves alternate, petiolate, ovate or elliptic, grey-green, concolorous. Adult leaves narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, acuminate; lamina 6.5-14 cm long, 0.8-1.8 cm wide, green or grey-green; lateral veins clearly visible, at 20°-40°; intramarginal vein up to 2 mm from margin; petiole terete or slightly flattened, 10-15 mm long. Umbels 7-flowered; peduncle terete or quadrangular, 3--11 mm long; pedicels 2-9 mm long. Buds clavate to fusiform; operculum conical to rostrate, usually narrower than hypanthium, 2-3 mm long, c. 3 mm wide; hypanthium hemispherical, 3-4 mm long and wide. Fruits hemispherical, ovoid to subglobular, 4-7 mm long and wide; valves usually 5, level or included.

Common name:

Yellow Box.

Distribution:

Occurs widely in south-eastern Qld, eastern N.S.W. and Vic. except the north-west, particularly on the tablelands and inland. Grows on gentle slopes, low hills and, in drier areas, on flats near watercourses, in loamy and heavy al luvial soil, in woodland sometimes in open forest.

Notes:

Distinguished by the fibrous, grey, yellow or red-brown bark persistent to variable heights on trees, intramarginal vein up to 2 mm from margin, 7-flowered umbels and prominent dark staminal ring, that persists and obscures the disc in fruit. A greatly favoured tree for honey production. The wood is hard, heavy, strong and extremely durable and has been used for heavy construction, railway sleepers, poles and firewood.