Manna Gum
Eucalyptus viminalis
Wurun
The tree that gives the Wurundjeri their name—people of the Wurun. A tall eucalypt with distinctive rough bark at the base and smooth white bark above that sheds in long ribbons. The sweet exudate (manna) from insect damage was a traditional food. Koalas prefer it above almost all other trees.
Climate context
Flowering responds to accumulated warmth over the preceding 2–3 months. Peak flowering occurs at 18–26°C, with timing varying by up to 2 weeks between years.
Seasonal indicator
- Flowering during Iuk (Eel season).
When to look
Monthly flowering observations in Victoria. Data from iNaturalist.
Where to look
Observations along the Merri Creek corridor (Fawkner to Dights Falls). Data from iNaturalist.
Historical record
Earliest Victorian specimen: 1840, collected by Bollan.
Frontier violence
A period of frontier conflict, forced removals, and the destruction of traditional food sources. George Augustus Robinson served as 'Chief Protector of Aborigines' while overseeing policies that confined people to reserves.
Learn more: Chief Protector records
Specimen data from the Atlas of Living Australia. The collection of botanical specimens occurred alongside — and sometimes in service of — the colonisation of Wurundjeri Country.