Lemon-scented Gum

Scientific Name : Corymbia citriodora (Hook.) K. D. Hill & L. A. S. Johnson
Common Name : Lemon-scented Gum
Chinese Name : 檸檬桉
Family : MYRTACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species

Anecdotes on plants

Origins	Eastern to northeast Australia.
Meanings of name	As indicated by its name, Lemon-scented Gum has an intense lemon fragrance. Volatile oil is present in its leaves and branches, with citral as the main component. Its strong scent comes out by rubbing its leaves and branches. Therefore, the species is relatively easy for identification among other many Eucalyptus species in Hong Kong. In addition, Lemon-scented Gum, like some animals, has a “skin-shedding” habit. Its bark peels off entirely once a year, exposing its smooth and bright tree trunk. The new bark is greyish white to pale bluish-grey. This kind of habit is comparable to the cicada shedding its carapace.
Applications	Eucalyptol can be extracted from its stems and leaves. Its timber can be used in flooring, ship-building and bridges-building, as well as wood pulp for paper making. The species is planted across the provinces in South China, as a street tree and greening species.
Vitality	Lemon-scented Gum prefers humid and hot climate, grows well on fertile soil, but is intolerant to frost.

Traits for identification

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Remarks

Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website : https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=6271

Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Eucalyptus citriodora Hooker
― Plants of the World Online : Corymbia citriodora (Hook.) K. D. Hill & L. A. S. Johnson

Reference

• Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). (2018). A Photographic Guide to Common Urban Trees of Hong Kong. 3^rd edition. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong. ISBN: 978-988-12021-3-0.
• Chippendale, G. M. (2020). Eucalyptus citriodora Hook. Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra. Retrieved 1^st June 2020, from: https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Eucalyptus%20citriodora
• eFloras. (2008). Eucalyptus citriodora Hooker. Flora of China. [Online Edition]. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 1^st June 2020, from: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200014779
• Hong Kong Herbarium, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department & South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2007-2011). Eucalyptus citriodora Hook. 檸檬桉. Flora of Hong Kong. [Online Edition]. Retrieved 1^st June 2020, from: https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/FloraOfHK/Species/6271/6271_S_E.pdf
• Thrower, S. L. (1988). Hong Kong Trees. Urban Council Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
• 中國科學院仙湖植物園。（2010）。《深圳植物誌》（第2卷）。北京 : 中國林業出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5038-5884-0。
• 中國科學院植物誌編輯委員會。（1959-2004）。〈檸檬桉Eucalyptus citriodora Hook. f.〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年6月1日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Eucalyptus%20citriodora?t=z
• 中國科學院植物誌編輯委員會。（1959-2004）。〈桉屬Eucalyptus L. Herit〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年6月1日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Eucalyptus?t=z
• 中國科學院華南植物園。（1995）。《廣東植物誌》（第3卷）。廣州 : 廣東科技出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5359-1272-9。