Lemon scented gum
Corymbia citriodora, Fam. Myrtaceae
A very large tree, to 40 or 50m high, with a straight trunk, white powdery, sometimes pink or blue grey bark and a sparse canopy.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Large Tree |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Leaf: | Narrow lance shaped, strongly lemon scented, lateral veins faint, at 35°-50°, stalk flattened, 8-16 x 0.5-2cm. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
White |
| Flower description: | White, about 2cm in diameter, borne in clusters of 3, several clusters forming panicles. Buds, club shaped, hemispherical base, 5-6 x 4-5mm, hemispherical cap with a point, 3-4 x 4-5mm. June to August. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Brown, egg shaped or urn shaped often warty capsules, 7-15 x 7-11mm, valves deeply enclosed. |
| Habitat: | Open forest. |
| Distribution | Queensland. |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Australia. |
| Notes: | A fast growing tree which is far too large for smaller suburban gardens, but it is a very attractive specimen for larger areas. Needs good drainage but will grow in a wide range of soils. Citronellal oil is distilled from the leaves for perfumes and menthol. Propagate from seed. |
| Information sources: | Townsend K. & the Society for Growing Australian Plant Townsville Branch Inc. (1994) Across the Top: Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. |
