Eucalyptus staigeriana – Lemon Scented Ironbark (plant)

Description

Eucalyptus staigeriana is a small ironbark tree species restricted to hilly country in the Maytown – Palmer River – Maitland Downs area of Cape York, QLD. E. staigeriana is easily distinguished from all other ironbarks by the strong smell of lemon in its crushed leaves.

The leaves when crushed have a wonderful lemon scent, reminiscent of lemon grass/lemon myrtle/crushed lemons but somewhat sweeter. E. staigeriana fresh weight leaves yield 2.9 – 3.4% essential oil. It contains a range of essential oil components, including geranial, methyl geranate, geranyl acetate, limonene, phellandrene, neral, terpinolene and geraniol. Brazil and Guatemala are the major producers of Eucalyptus staigeriana oil, with Brazil producing up to 60 tonnes pa (Wikipedia).

Used in skin care products, insect repellents, food flavouring; Eucalyptus staigeriana oil is antibacterial and antiviral.

Eucalyptus staigeriana is named after Karl Theodore Staiger (1833–1888). In 1873, Karl Staiger was appointed Government Analytical Chemist and Custodian of the Brisbane Museum. In addition to his analytical duties, the pharmaceutical importance of poisonous plants was another area of interest. He was also very interested in the essential oils of eucalypts and assisted F.M. Bailey in an illustrated monograph on Queensland grasses published in 1878.

Care and Cultivation of Eucalyptus staigeriana

Eucalyptus staigeriana likes a well drained soil in a full sun position. A small tree to 12m tall, forming a lignotuber, which means it should coppice well allowing it to be pruned and kept manageable for smaller garden or pot culture.

1 plant