Coolabah, Coolibah, Flooded Box
Eucalyptus microtheca

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A medium to large tree. It is often sprawling. It grows 10-20 m high and spreads 8-15 m wide. The bark is dark grey and fibrous. This extends to the upper branches. The leaves are grey-green. They are 15 cm long and narrow. The small buds are only 3 mm long and wide. They have a whitish coating and a cone-shaped cap. They occur in clusters. The flowers are white. The capsules are funnel-shaped and 4 mm long.

There are at least 500 Eucalyptus species mostly originally in Australia.

Where it is found

It grows in warm temperate regions. It can grow in arid or semiarid locations. It needs well drained soils but they can be wet or dry. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It can stand heavy frosts. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 125-1,020 mm. It can grow in salty and alkaline soils. It grows below 900 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), India, Iran, Iraq, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, North Africa, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, USA

How it is used for food

A sweet manna like substance is edible The seeds can be ground and made into cake and eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds, manna

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Symphyomyrtus;