White Gum Tree: Wandoo

The white gum is a species of small to medium sized trees that have smooth, white bark and are found in the southwest of Australia. Eucalytpus wandoo is the specific white gum tree found in the Koondoola Primary School Bush Walk.

Description

The Wandoo typically grows to a height of 25 metres. It has smooth white bark, often with patches of white, grey or light brown. The timber of the Wandoo is very hard, strong and durable and has been used for sleepers, poles, flooring and many forms of heavy construction. The Wandoo has greyish-green or greyish-blue curved leaves that are 75–125 mm long and 10–28 mm wide. It has white flowers which are conical in shape, that typically bloom between December to May. The Wandoo is a slow growing tree and can live up to 400 years or more.

Habitat

The Wandoo grows in the medium and lower rainfall areas of the Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions. It distribution occurs south to the Stirling Range and north to Moora. The Wandoo typically grows in open woodlands and forests. It usually occurs low in the landscape growing in a variety of soils over clay subsoil. In recent years, the Wandoo has suffered from extensive clearing for agricultural purposes. Today, less than 5% of the original Wandoo woodland forest remains.

Significance in Noongar Culture

The Noongar people traditionally ate the roots of the Wandoo, which they called Conna. These roots have been described as very juicy, with the juice having a sweetish taste with a slight flavour of celery. There is also evidence that the Wandoo was traditionally used for water storage. The leaves of the Wandoo produce eucalyptus oil, which has been used by Noongar people for medicinal purposes. Gum leaves are rubbed between the hands and then breathed-in to clear the nasal passages.