Eucalyptus olida is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to a restricted area of New South Wales, Australia. It has rough, flaky and fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven to fifteen or more, white flowers and barrel-shaped or bell-shaped fruit. Description Eucalyptus olida is a tree that typically grows to a height of and forms a lignotuber. It has thick, rough, fibrous and flaky bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth white or grey bark that is shed in long ribbons from branches less than in diameter. Young plants and coppice regrowth have dull bluish green, egg-shaped leaves that are long and wide. Adult leaves are the same shade of dull to slightly glossy green on both sides, lance-shaped to curved, long and wide tapering to a petiole long. The flower buds are arranged in leaf axils in groups of between seven and fifteen or more on an unbranched peduncle long, the individual buds on pedicels long. Mature buds are oval, about long and wide with a rounded or conical operculum. Flowering has been recorded in February and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, barrel-shaped or bell-shaped capsule with the valves near rim level. Taxonomy and naming Eucalyptus olida was first formally described in 1990 by Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill in the journal Telopea. The specific epithet (olida) is from the Latin olidus, meaning "smelling" or "rank", referring to the odour of the leaves when crushed. Distribution and habitat This eucalypt is restricted to the Timbarra Plateau and Gibraltar Range National Park where it grows in forest and woodland in shallow soil derived from granite. Uses Essential oils The leaves of E. olida are distilled for their crystalline essential oils used in flavouring and perfumery. The leaf oil is 98% methyl cinnamate and yield is 2-6% of fresh leaf weight. Use in food The leaf of E. olida is also used as a dried spice product in bushfood cooking, especially with fruit and in herbal teas. It has high anti-oxidant activity. Gallery References Bushfood Flora of New South Wales olida Myrtales of Australia Trees of Australia Taxa named by Lawrence Alexander Sidney Johnson Taxa named by Ken Hill (botanist)