Strawberry gum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Strawberry gum |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
olida
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Eucalyptus olida, often called "strawberry gum", is a special kind of tree. It grows only in a small part of New South Wales, Australia. This tree is known for its rough bark and its leaves, which smell like strawberries when crushed. People use its leaves to make essential oils for flavor and even as a spice in food and teas.
Contents
What Does the Strawberry Gum Tree Look Like?
The Eucalyptus olida tree usually grows to be about 20 to 30 meters (65 to 100 feet) tall. It has thick, rough bark on its main trunk and bigger branches. The smaller branches have smooth, white, or grey bark that peels off in long strips.
Leaves and Flowers
Young strawberry gum trees have dull, bluish-green leaves shaped like an egg. These leaves are about 4.5 to 10 centimeters (1.8 to 4 inches) long. As the tree gets older, its leaves become lance-shaped and are a dull to slightly shiny green color.
The tree's flower buds grow in groups of seven to fifteen or more. They are oval-shaped and about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) long. When they bloom, the flowers are white. The fruit of the tree is a woody, barrel-shaped or bell-shaped capsule.
Where Does Strawberry Gum Grow?
This special eucalypt tree is found only in two specific areas of New South Wales: the Timbarra Plateau and the Gibraltar Range National Park. It likes to grow in forests and woodlands where the soil is shallow and comes from granite rocks.
How Do People Use Strawberry Gum?
The Eucalyptus olida tree is very useful, especially its leaves.
Making Essential Oils
The leaves of the strawberry gum tree are used to make essential oils. These oils are extracted and used for adding flavor to food and drinks, and also in perfumes. The oil from the leaves is mostly made of something called methyl cinnamate, which gives it its unique smell. About 2% to 6% of the fresh leaf weight can be turned into this oil.
Strawberry Gum in Food
The leaves of the E. olida tree are also dried and used as a spice. They are popular in bushfood cooking, especially with fruits. People also use them to make herbal teas. The leaves are known to have high antioxidant activity, which is good for your health.
Images for kids
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E. olida juvenile foliage
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Methyl cinnamate extracted from Eucalyptus olida
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Leaves of Eucalyptus olida in small steam distillation unit
- Plant profile and cultivation [1]
See also
In Spanish: Eucalyptus olida para niños
