Red Box - Eucalyptus Polyanthemos is a small to medium sized tree, growing typically 6-20m, with a straight trunk and dense follage. The bark is short and scaley, is shed from the tree in small strips. The trunk is often rough for the first 1m then smooth and box like for the remander, the branches are smooth and waxy. The leaves are slate grey or greyish green in colour, adult leaves are round to oval 15mm x 55mm and also slightly waxy.
The redish buds are produced on short stalks appearing 10-12 months before flowering and form in groups of seven (6-8mm x 5-6mm). Flowering occurs between September and November and are white. The fruit produced are pear shaped with a lid and are 3 x 6mm.
Red Box is wide spread growing in the hills from central and eastern Victoria, Ararat to Bairnsdale, it grows where the winters are cold, summers are hot and best suited for well drained hilly slopes. The honey is pale, sometimes tallowy flavour but disappears when it is stored for 12 months. Red Box produces strong red timber that is durable and is a good fuel source.
