Datasheet
Eucalyptus paniculata (grey ironbark)
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Pictures
Top of page| Picture | Title | Caption | Copyright |  | Title | Stand |
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| Caption | North of Glenorie, New South Wales, Australia. |
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| Copyright | CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products |
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| Stand | North of Glenorie, New South Wales, Australia. | CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products |
Identity
Top of pagePreferred Scientific Name
- Eucalyptus paniculata Sm.
Preferred Common Name
Local Common Names
- Brazil: eucalipto
- South Africa: grysysterbasbloekom
EPPO code
- EUCPA (Eucalyptus paniculata)
Trade name
Summary of Invasiveness
Top of pageE. paniculata grows rapidly and is able to tolerate a range of soil conditions, as well as drought and light frost. However it has become invasive in South Africa and is declared a category 2 invader under the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (1983) in South Africa. However, comparatively little information on the invasiveness of this species is available.
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page
- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Spermatophyta
- Subphylum: Angiospermae
- Class: Dicotyledonae
- Order: Myrtales
- Family: Myrtaceae
- Genus: Eucalyptus
- Species: Eucalyptus paniculata
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Top of pageThere appears to be no taxonomic confusion surrounding E. paniculata, unlike in some Eucalyptus species.
Description
Top of pageE. paniculata is a medium-sized to tall tree, 15-30 m high and with a diameter at breast height of up to 1 m, but on favourable sites, heights of up to 50 m and diameters of 1.5 m have been recorded. Trunks are typically long and straight with a furrowed, hard or corky, light grey ironbark persistent to the small branches. Henderson (2001) describes E. paniculata as a tall evergreen tree, with leaves dark green and discolorous at all stages of growth, 95-100 mm long when mature and pendulous, whereas young leaves are shorter and broader; cream flowers with long exserted stamens, buds with conical lids and up to 11 mm long. The fruits are hemispherical capsules, 6-10 mm long, tapering to a short stalk and with enclosed or slightly protruding valves (frequently five).
Plant Type
Top of pageBroadleaved
Perennial
Seed propagated
Tree
Woody
Distribution
Top of pageE. paniculata originates in eastern Australia (Henderson, 2001).
Distribution Table
Top of pageThe distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
History of Introduction and Spread
Top of pageE. paniculata is now planted in a number of countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Risk of Introduction
Top of pageThere is comparatively little information available on the biology of this species and its behaviour as an invasive. Since it has become invasive in South Africa, future introductions should consider the possibility that it may become invasive in other exotic locations.
Habitat
Top of pageIn its native Australia, E. paniculata occurs as a component of dry sclerophyllous woodland, e.g. in New South Wales (Anon., 1997). In one of its exotic locations, South Africa, it is an invader of watercourses (Henderson, 2001).
Habitat List
Top of page| Category | Habitat | Presence | Status | | Terrestrial-natural/semi-natural |
| Riverbanks | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Biology and Ecology
Top of pageE. paniculata is a species of subtropical warm humid to sub-humid climates. It has proven itself as a good to very good plantation species, combining quick growth and good coppicing ability with adaptability to a wide range of soil conditions and some tolerance of drought and light frost.
In South Africa this species flowers from May to January (Henderson, 2001), and reproduces from seed.
In Australian dry schlerophyll woodland it may be associated with E. punctata, E. tereticornis and Syncarpia glomulifera (Anon., 1997) and it is one of the food plants of the koala, Phascolarctos cinereus (Bryan, 1997).
Air Temperature
Top of page| Parameter | Lower limit | Upper limit | | Absolute minimum temperature (ºC) | 0 | |
| Mean annual temperature (ºC) | 13 | 23 |
| Mean maximum temperature of hottest month (ºC) | 24 | 31 |
| Mean minimum temperature of coldest month (ºC) | 1 | 8 |
Rainfall
Top of page| Parameter | Lower limit | Upper limit | Description | | Dry season duration | 2 | 3 | number of consecutive months with <40 mm rainfall |
| Mean annual rainfall | 530 | 1700 | mm; lower/upper limits |
Soil Tolerances
Top of pageSoil drainage
Soil reaction
Soil texture
Special soil tolerances
Notes on Natural Enemies
Top of pageThe pathogen Armillaria mellea (Armillaria root rot) and a Cerambycid herbivore Phoracantha semipunctata (blue gum borer, or Eucalyptus longhorn borer) are known to attack E. paniculata.
Means of Movement and Dispersal
Top of pageNo specific information was available for this species but it is known that wind disperses the seed of several other invasive Eucalyptus species, e.g. E. cladocalyx, E. grandis and E. lehmanii (Dean et al., 1986).
Impact Summary
Top of page| Category | Impact | | Animal/plant collections | None |
| Animal/plant products | None |
| Biodiversity (generally) | Negative |
| Crop production | None |
| Environment (generally) | Negative |
| Fisheries / aquaculture | None |
| Forestry production | None |
| Human health | None |
| Livestock production | None |
| Native fauna | None |
| Native flora | Negative |
| Rare/protected species | None |
| Tourism | None |
| Trade/international relations | None |
| Transport/travel | None |
Environmental Impact
Top of pageHenderson (2001) describes E. paniculata as a 'potential habitat transformer', but in general, there is little specific information available.
Risk and Impact Factors
Top of pageImpact outcomes
- Reduced native biodiversity
Invasiveness
- Has high reproductive potential
- Has propagules that can remain viable for more than one year
- Highly adaptable to different environments
- Highly mobile locally
- Proved invasive outside its native range
Likelihood of entry/control
- Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
Uses
Top of pageE. paniculata is a good shade and shelterbelt species and also produces good honey. It is a good pole species and also an excellent fuelwood and charcoal timber. The dark- to red-brown wood is very hard, strong and durable, being used principally for heavy engineering construction. Due to its high density (over 1000 kg/m³), the wood is difficult to work. Wood products include transmission poles, posts, piles, building poles, building timbers and boats.
Uses List
Top of pageEnvironmental
Fuels
General
Human food and beverage
Materials
- Miscellaneous materials
- Wood/timber
Wood Products
Top of pageBoats
Bridges
Building poles
Charcoal
Engineering structures
For heavy construction
Piles
Posts
Roundwood
Sawn or hewn building timbers
Transmission poles
Prevention and Control
Top of pageNo precise information is available on the control of E. paniculata; however, for some other invasive Eucalyptus species (e.g. E. cladocalyx and E. globulus), the practice of digging out seedlings and young trees has been applied (Weber, 2003). Similarly mature trees of these species have been felled and the stumps treated with herbicide, or herbicides can be used to spray any seedlings/shoots that appear after the above treatment, whereas drilling stems and filling with herbicide is a further approach (Weber, 2003). Henderson (2001) identifies that one or more herbicides are registered for the control of this species in South Africa.
References
Top of pageAnon, 1997. Cattai National Park, Plan of Management. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, New South Wales, Australia. http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/PDFs/pom_final_cattai.pdf.
Attiwill PM, Adams MA, 1996. Nutrition of eucalypts. viii + 440 pp. Melbourne, Australia: CSIRO Publishing.
Boland DJ, Brooker MIH, Chippendale GM, Hall N, Hyland BPM, Johnston RD, Kleinig DA, Turner JD, 1984. Forest trees of Australia. 4th ed. Melbourne, Australia:Thomas Nelson and CSIRO. xvi + 687 pp.; 77 ref.
Boland DJ, Brooker MIH, Turnbull JW, Kleinig DA, 1980. Eucalyptus seed. Canberra, Australia: Division of Forest Research, CSIRO. xii + 191 pp.; 63 pl.; 212 ref.
Booth TH, Nix HA, Hutchinson MF, Jovanovic T, 1988. Niche analysis and tree species introduction. Forest Ecology and Management, 23(1):47-59; 29 ref.
Booth TH, Pryor LD, 1991. Climatic requirements of some commercially important eucalypt species. Forest Ecology and Management, 43(1-2):47-60; 31 ref.
Bootle KR, 1983. Wood in Australia: types, properties and uses. Sydney, Australia: McGraw-Hill Book Company, viii + 443pp.; many ref.
Brooker MIH, Kleinig DA, 1983. Field guide to eucalypts. Volume 1. South-eastern Australia. vii + 288 pp. Sydney, Australia: Inkata Press.
Brooker MIH, Kleinig DA, 1994. Field Guide to Eucalypts. Vol. 3. Northern Australia. Sydney, Australia: Inkata Press.
Brundrett M, Bougher N, Dell B, Grove T, Malajczuk N, 1996. Working with mycorrhizas in forestry and agriculture. Working with mycorrhizas in forestry and agriculture., ix + 374 pp.; [ACIAR Monograph No. 32]; Many ref.
Bryan BA, 1997. A generic method for identifying regional koala habitat using GIS. Australian Geographical Studies, 35:125-139.
Chippendale GM, 1988. Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae). Flora of Australia, 19. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Publishing Service.
Clemson A, 1985. Honey and pollen flora. Honey and pollen flora., iv + 263 pp.; [B].
Cremer KW, 1990. Trees for rural Australia. Melbourne, Australia: Inkata Press.
Dean SJ, Holmes PM, Weiss PW, 1986. Seed biology of invasive alien plants in South Africa and South West Africa / Namibia. In: Macdonald IAW, Kruger FJ, Ferrar AA (eds.), The Ecology and Management of Biological Invasions in Southern Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Oxford University Press, 157-170.
Doran JC, 1990. Nursery practice. In: Cremer KW, ed. Trees for Rural Australia. Melbourne, Australia: Inkata Press, 89-106.
Florence RG, 1996. Ecology and silviculture of eucalypt forests. Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing.
Griffin AR, Burgess IP, Wolf L, 1988. Patterns of natural and manipulated hybridisation in the genus Eucalyptus L'Herit. - a review. Australian Journal of Botany, 36(1):41-66.
Hamza KFS, 1999. Basic density and some anatomical properties of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnhr., E. citriodora Hook, and E. paniculata Sm. grown at Ruvu, Tanzania. Annals of Forestry, 7(2):221-226.
Henderson L, 2001. Alien Weeds and Invasive Plants. Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook No. 12. Cape Town, South Africa: Paarl Printers.
Hillis WE, Brown AG, 1984. Eucalypts for wood production. Melbourne, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.
Jacobs MR, 1981. Eucalypts for planting. Eucalypts for planting., Ed. 2:xxiv + 677 pp. + 36 pl.; [B].
Keating WG, Bolza E, 1982. Characteristics, properties and uses of timbers. Volume 1. South-east Asia, Northern Australia and the Pacific. xxi + 362 pp.; 24 pl. (col.); 146 ref. Melbourne, Australia: Inkata Press.
Langkamp PJ, 1987. Germination of Australian native plant seed. Melbourne, Australia: Inkata Press.
Mattei VL, Longhi SJ, 2001. Evaluation of Eucalyptus paniculata Smith natural regeneration. (Avaliação da regeneração natural de Eucalyptus paniculata Smith.) Ciência Florestal, 11(1):55-65.
Poynton RJ, 1979. Report to the Southern African Regional Commission for the Conservation and Utilization of the Soil (SARCCUS) on tree planting in southern Africa. Vol. 2. The eucalypts. Pretoria, South Africa: Department of Forestry. xvi + 882 pp.; ISBN 0-621-04763-5; 208 ref.
Pryor LD, 1976. Biology of eucalypts. Institute of Biology's Studies in Biology 61. London: Edward Arnold Ltd. 1976, v + 82 pp.; B.
Pryor LD, Johnson LAS, 1971. A classification of the eucalypts. Canberra, Australia: Australian National University, pp. 102.
USDA-NRCS, 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5. Baton Rouge, USA: National Plant Data Center. http://plants.usda.gov.
Webb DB, Wood PJ, Smith JP, Henman GS, 1984. A guide to species selection for tropical and sub-tropical plantations. Tropical Forestry Papers, No. 15. Oxford, UK: Commonwealth Forestry Institute, University of Oxford.
Weber E, 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: A reference guide to environmental weeds. Wallingford, UK: CAB International, 548 pp.
Distribution Maps
Top of page
- = Present, no further details
- = Evidence of pathogen
- = Widespread
- = Last reported
- = Localised
- = Presence unconfirmed
- = Confined and subject to quarantine
- = See regional map for distribution within the country
- = Occasional or few reports