Eucalyptus staigeriana
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| 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, Eastern Australia. The complex essential oil is distilled from the leaves and used for flavoring and aromatherapy. The leaf is also used as a bushfood spice and herb-tea ingredient.
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. It is used like a bay-leaf in savory cooking, and is also used in confectionery and teas. It has a fruity-lemon flavor, with a rosemary-like edge.
Until recently Brazil was the only producer of E.staigeriana oil, producing up to 60 tonnes pa. [1] E. staigeriana has been grown in small-scale plantations in Queensland and Northern New South Wales since the 1990s, including for the leaf as a bushfood spice.
External links
- Plant profile, including cultivation requirements [1]
References:
- Boland et al, Eucalyptus Leaf Oils - Use, Chemistry, Distillation and Marketing, ISBN 0-909605-69-6.
