Eucalyptus coolabah is a eucalypt of riparian zones and is found throughout Australia from arid inland to coastal regions. The plant is commonly called coolibah or coolabah, the name being a loanword from the Indigenous Australian Yuwaaliyaay word, gulabaa..

Propagation is dependent on periods of immersion under water to sterilise seedbeds and as a result the species is restricted to locales that experience at least periodic flooding. Nonetheless the tree can be found over extensive areas of floodplain far from permanent water as well as near seasonally flooded springs or close to permanent bodies of water. The name coolabah is mentioned in the song Waltzing Matilda.

E. coolabah is a wide-spreading tree (often more wide than tall) and reaches up to 15m in height. The bark is box-like (persistent, dark grey, thick, furrowed) on the trunk and lower branches; but smooth pale grey up the top.

Coolabah is also the name of a range of Cask Wines produced by Orlando Wines, Australia.

Similar Species

E. coolabah is very similar to E. microtheca. The main external difference is that the latter has completely smooth bark. E. coolabah was once known under E. microtheca (which now has a number of subspecies), before splitting.

References

• Holliday, I. A field guide to Australian trees (3rd edition), Reed New Holland, 2002
• Cronin, L. Key Guide to Australian Trees, Envirobook, 2000