Manna gum, Ribbon gum, White Gum
Eucalyptus viminalis

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A medium to tall tree. It can grow 10-70 m tall. It spreads 8-15 m wide. The bark is smooth and whitish. It has some rough bark at the base of the trunk. The upper limbs shed bark in long strips. The branches are long and slender. Young leaves are opposite with the base wrapped around the stem. They are bright green. The adult leaves are long, dark green and sword shaped. They are 10-15 cm long. The flowers are in groups of 3. They are small and cream or white. The capsule is 5-8 mm wide. It is almost round. It has pointed valves which stick up.

There are at least 500 Eucalyptus species mostly originally in Australia. This one is a favourite food of koalas. The manna consists of an unfermentable sugar called eucalin, and a fermentable sugar reported to be dextro-glucose.

Where it is found

It grows in temperate regions. It can grow in the subtropics. It needs well drained soils but they can be wet. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It can stand heavy frosts. It grows in cooler places. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 635-889 mm. It grows below 1,300 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. Tasmania Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Europe, Greece, Hawaii, Italy, Mediterranean, Myanmar, New Zealand, Portugal, SE Asia, Spain, St Helena, Tasmania (country/location of origin), USA, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

A white sweet manna probably produced as the result of insect damage is fermented and drunk.

Edible parts

Gum, manna

How it is grown

The manna is probably the result of boring by the Great Black, or Manna cicada (Cicada moerens).

Its other names

Local names

Binnap, Manna eucalyptus, Yulong

Synonyms

Eucalyptus faborum Schlecht.; Eucalyptus huberiana Naudin; Eucalyptus mannifera Nudie;