Family:
Myrtaceae
Eucalyptus mannifera
Common Name
Other Names: Snap Gum, White Gum, Snappy Gum
Name Origin:
mannifera — bearing manna (sugary substance exuded from injured stems).
Regional Subspecies:
E. m. subsp. mannifera
Similar Species:
Distinguished from Candlebark (E. rubida) by its juvenile leaves and fruit.
Occurrence:
Regional:
Widespread in the easterly catchments and higher rainfall areas. Predominantly east of the Hume Highway, and southern areas.
Australia:
NSW, Vic.
Habitat:
Open dry sclerophyll woodland. Typically on shallow, rocky, relatively infertile soils.
Habit:
Tree to 20 m high with smooth powdery white, grey or red bark in patches, shedding in short ribbons, plates or flakes. Open crown of dull narrow green to grey-green leaves.
Site Preference:
Well-drained soils. Tolerates frost, moderate snowfalls and drought.
Characteristics:
Tends to lose branches on still, warm days, which produces many hollows.
Flowering:
White, spring-autumn (mainly Feb-Mar).
Propagation:
From seed (± 425 seeds per gram). 25°C is optimum germination temperature.
Regeneration:
From seed, particularly in absence of competitive exotic grasses or weeds, during wet summers.
VALUES:
Shade & Shelter:
Useful medium-level cover in wide windbreaks.
Land Protection:
Useful to revegetate recharge sites to reduce water entering watertable.
Wildlife:
Excellent habitat. Particularly valuable for hollows, important nesting sites for many native birds and mammals, including the Greater Glider and Yellow-bellied Glider. Flowers are a food source for many native insects. Insect-eating birds attracted.
Fuel:
Fair.
Timber:
Little value. Pink, soft, brittle timber.
Ornamental:
Highly ornamental. Responds well to coppicing to obtain multi-stemmed plants.
Other:
Manna (sugary substance) exuded from injured stems was used as sweet_tasting laxative. Leaves produce range of dyes depending on mordants used.