About Eucalyptus odorata Behr
Eucalyptus odorata Behr is a mallee or small tree that typically grows to a height of 2–12 m (6 ft 7 in – 39 ft 4 in) and forms a lignotuber. It has rough, hard, fissured bark on the trunk and on branches thicker than 50–100 mm (2.0–3.9 in), with smooth, grey or brownish bark on smaller upper branches. Young plants and coppice regrowth have lance-shaped leaves that are 40–105 mm (1.6–4.1 in) long and 4–23 mm (0.16–0.91 in) wide. Mature adult leaves are glossy green and the same shade on both sides, are lance-shaped, 55–140 mm (2.2–5.5 in) long and 6–20 mm (0.24–0.79 in) wide, tapering to a 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) long petiole. Flower buds are arranged in leaf axils in groups of seven, nine or eleven on an unbranched peduncle; individual buds are sessile or borne on pedicels up to 6 mm (0.24 in) long. Mature buds are spindle-shaped to oval, 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) wide with a conical to beaked operculum. Flowering occurs between March and October, and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody cylindrical or barrel-shaped capsule 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long and 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) wide, with valves positioned near the rim of the capsule. Commonly called peppermint box, this species is widely distributed in South Australia, where it occurs between the southern Flinders Ranges and Bordertown and Lake Alexandrina, as well as on the lower Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. It also grows in north-western Victoria, and there are a few recorded occurrences in the Cobar region of New South Wales. It can grow in a variety of habitats, but is most commonly found on undulating country.
