White Bolly Gum

Neolitsea dealbata

Common name: White Bolly Gum

Scientific name: Neolitsea dealbata

Height: Up to 30m

Bark: Dark brown, blistered, slightly scaly in larger trees. Stems hairy.

Leaves: Glossy, dark green on the upper surface and a whitish or silvery underside. The leaf is lance-shaped or elliptical, with a distinct aromatic scent when crushed. There are brownish hairs on the older leaves.

Flowers: Small, pale yellow, and inconspicuous

Fruit: Dark purple to black berries

First Nations Uses: Used for spear-throwing, boomerangs, and shields from the wood. Also used for medicinal purposes.

White Bolly Gum_01

White Bolly Gum Harvey Weaver _01

Geographical location: Native to eastern Australia, particularly found in subtropical and warm temperate rainforests, as well as wet sclerophyll forests. It occurs mainly in the regions of Queensland and New South Wales.

Conservation status: Not currently listed as threatened or endangered, but it faces threats from habitat loss due to land clearing, logging, and urban development.

Research by: Lucy Bai (edited by Mrs Brown)
Photos by: Harvey Weaver

Interesting fact:

Its berries are consumed by birds and small mammals, contributing to seed dispersal. This plant is a host species for larvae of the blue triangle butterfly (Graphium sarpedon).