Scientific Name: Corymbia gummifera (was Eucalyptus gummifera)

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  • Pronunciation:
    cor-RIMB-ee-ah gum-ee-FUR-au
  • Common Name:
    Red Bloodwood
  • Derivation:
    Corymbia; Gr. corynbos - cluster, column |gummifera: L. gummi - gum, fera to bear (commonly exudes gum or resin on trunk)
  • Type:
    Tree
  • Family:
    MYRTACEAE
  • Flowers:
    White. Large terminal panicles. Late summer
  • Fruit:
    capsule with neat turned-back rim - faintly ribbed smooth shiny. 3 or 4 deeply enclosed valves.
  • Vegetation Type:
    Dry Eucalypt Forest, Sandy soils, can tolerate poor drainage. (e.g. Tidswell Rd. Lake Weyba)
  • Species List:
    SBHS, Bush food, Bush medicine, Craft, Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island, Eucalypt Forest Trees TAFE BHNR, RE 12.2.6.
Cultural Notes

TAKE CARE! Some information about bush foods and medicines may be anecdotal. Correct identification and preparation is essential:

Timber: Deep red in colour and very durable. Generally has abundant gum veins. |Main uses: General construction timber for all situations, fencing, poles, railway sleepers, house stumps. Termite resistant. Good fuel wood.

Sap used as a preservative for fishing lines.

Poor drought fodder.

Important source of honey and pollen for bees.

Bush food: Nectar sucked from flowers. Water extracted from roots.

Bush medicine: Diarrhoea and dysentery - kino (gum) solution drunk; leaves and oil prescribed for everything. |Pad of chewed leaves often placed on wound to heal.

Identification Notes

Seed not winged. |Old leaves turn red |Trunk flaky yellowish brown |Smaller branches smooth |Leaves strongly discolorous |water-logged sandy areas

Associated Fauna

Koala tree. Bird and butterfly attracting

Landscaping Notes

Noosa Council Preferred Species list||Successfully propagated by Tin Can Bay City Farm Nursery|Successfully propagated by Mooloola Native Nursery||