Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm.

Scientific Name: Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm.

Family:Myrtaceae

Common Name:Coolabah, Coolibah, Flooded-box

Hindi Name: निलगिरी

Description:Coolabah is an evergreen tree, native to Australia, up to 10 m tall, rarely more. The bark varies, it can be smooth and white or gray to rough, fibrous, gray to gray-black. Juvenile leaves are alternate, lanceshaped, green to gray-green in color. Adult leaves are lanceshaped and dull green or gray-green in color. Leaves are 4-8 inche long. Inconspicuous creamy white flowers are followed by woody capsules. Coolabah is the second most widely distributed species in Australia.

Economic Importance:

The wood gives a good fuel wood having calorific value of 4962 kcal/kg. The charcoal maybe used for producer gas plants, in pigments, fireworks, gun-powder, rubber-production, animal feeds, and some other chemical industries. The wood yields a brownish pulp useful in manufacture of wrapping paper and card-board.

Medicinal Importance: Eucalyptus plant was used traditionally as antiseptic and for the treatment of respiratory tract infections and useful for colds, flu, sore throats and chest infections including bronchitis and pneumonia.

Cultural Importance: Leaves of Eucalyptus globulus and E. citriodora are used for extraction of oil. It is a cottage industry providing employment in some parts of India. Paper and pulp: One of the most important uses of eucalypt wood so far has been in the paper and pulp industry.