Eucalyptus staigeriana

Eucalyptus staigeriana
Eucalyptus staigeriana leaf
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species: E. staigeriana
Binomial name
Eucalyptus staigeriana
F. Muell. ex Bailey

Eucalyptus staigeriana, lemon ironbark or lemon-scented ironbark, is a small rough barked sclerophyll tree that grows naturally in pure stands on hills in the Palmer River region of Cape York, North Queensland, Australia.

Uses

Eucalyptus staigeriana essential oil in clear glass vial

The complex essential oil is distilled from the leaves and used for flavouring, perfumery and aromatherapy. It has a fruity-lemon fragrance with rosemary-like back tones. 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.[1][2] Lemon ironbark is also grown in its country of origin in small-scale plantations in Queensland and Northern New South Wales, including for leaf as a bushfood spice.

The leaf is used in cooking like bay-leaf, and as an herbal tea ingredient in Australia. Lemon ironbark leaf has a high free radical scavenging ability.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Cribb, A.B. & J.W., Useful Plants in Australia, Collins 1982, p 28, ISBN 0-00-636397-0
  2. ↑ CHAPTER 5
  3. ↑ Zhao, J., Agboola, S., Functional Properties of Australian Bushfoods - A Report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, 2007, RIRDC Publication No 07/030


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