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Blue Gum
Scientific name:
Eucalyptus Saligna
Order/Family:
Myrtaceae
Local names:
Giriama: Kamba (Musilikini); Kikuyu (Mubao, Munyua mai); Kisii (Omoringarnu); Luo (Bao); Swahili (Mtimbao).
Introduction
General Distribution:
It is native to Australia and is widely planted in the tropics. In Kenya, is the dominant gum grown in the highlands.
Distribution of E. saligna in Kenya
© Maundu P. and Bo Tengnas. (2005). Useful trees and shrubs for Kenya, World Agroforestry Centre.


General Information about the Tree:
The species should not be planted near crops as yields are adversely affected. This is a good tree for woodlots. It is an important general-purpose hardwood in Australia, and is favored for construction, flooring, cladding and paneling.


Biophysical Limits:
In Kenya, is the dominant gum grown in the highlands, 1,200 - 2,400 m. It will grow in all but arid areas or those infested by termites. Does well in agro-ecological zones I - III.
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Propagation and Tree Management
The blue gum is found in plantations, woodlots and shelterbelts. Propagation may be done by use of seedlings and direct sowing at site. They are very fast growing on good sites and coppices very well. It takes (15 - 25 yrs) for timber and (5 - 12 yrs) for poles)


Products:
Blue gum tree has many uses which includes; their use for
  • Fuel: source of firewood and charcoal.
  • Apiculture: Sidney blue gum is not reliable as a honey producer. It is however useful in stimulating colonies and may be helpful in queen-rearing and re-stocking programs. The honey is strongly flavoured, rather dark and frequently lacks density. It does not store well.
  • Fibre: Young, fast-grown trees are used for semi-chemical pulp. However, when E. saligna is grown slowly, the heartwood may become difficult to process.
  • Timber: The heartwood is red or pink, hard, stiff, coarse textured, usually straight grained, moderately durable, is easy to work and polishes.
  • Essential oil: is essential for oil yields. The major compound found in E. saligna is alpha-pinene.


Services:
Reclamation: E. saligna is widely used in reforestation.
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Pests and Diseases
Natural forests may be severely damaged by psyllids of the genus Spondyliaspis, and the weakened trees may then become more susceptible to attack by the wood borer Xyleborus truncatus. Larvae of Phoracantha semipunctata have caused wood degradation in young plantations in Western Australia. Plantations in northern New South Wales have suffered little from insect attack. However, in scattered patches throughout the coastal area, E. saligna has been killed off by die-back disease. In the nursery, damping-off fungi such as Pythium spp. and Rhizoctonia spp. can reduce seedling survival. E. saligna is resistant to the root rot fungus, Phytophthora cinnamomi.
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Information Source Links
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Eucaliptus saligna
© USDA Forest Service, wikipedia
Fungi
Occurring worldwide, most fungi are largely invisible to the naked eye, living for the most part in soil, dead matter, and as symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi. They perform an essential role in all ecosystems in decomposing organic matter and are indispensable in nutrient cycling and exchange. Some fungi become noticeable when fruiting, either as mushrooms or molds.

Fungi are responsible for a range of serious plant diseases such as blight, grey mould, bunts, powdery mildew, and downy mildew. Crops of all kinds often suffer heavy losses.

Fungal plant diseases are usually managed with applications of chemical fungicides or heavy metals. In some cases, conventional breeding has provided fungus resistantcultivars.

Besides combatting yield losses, preventing fungal infection keeps crops free of toxic compounds produced by some pathogenic fungi. These compounds, often referred to as mycotoxins, can affect affect the immune system and disrupt hormone balances. Some mycotoxins are carcinogenic.
Fungi
Occurring worldwide, most fungi are largely invisible to the naked eye, living for the most part in soil, dead matter, and as symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi. They perform an essential role in all ecosystems in decomposing organic matter and are indispensable in nutrient cycling and exchange. Some fungi become noticeable when fruiting, either as mushrooms or molds.

Fungi are responsible for a range of serious plant diseases such as blight, grey mould, bunts, powdery mildew, and downy mildew. Crops of all kinds often suffer heavy losses.

Fungal plant diseases are usually managed with applications of chemical fungicides or heavy metals. In some cases, conventional breeding has provided fungus resistantcultivars.

Besides combatting yield losses, preventing fungal infection keeps crops free of toxic compounds produced by some pathogenic fungi. These compounds, often referred to as mycotoxins, can affect affect the immune system and disrupt hormone balances. Some mycotoxins are carcinogenic.