Oil mallees

Oil mallees are promoted and planted in Australian dryland agricultural systems for various environmental benefits, including erosion control, salinity mitigation and biodiversity. Oil mallees are also the basis of a burgeoning woody crop industry.

The Future Farm Industries CRC’s Breeding Woody Crops project is undertaking an initial three-year genetic improvement study of selected species including two oil mallee species – Eucalyptus polybractae and E. Loxophleba (subspecies lissophloia and subspecies gratiae) – and Acacia saligna. The project has also identified another four species for further investigation, including three species of oil mallee (E. porosa, E. viridis and E. bakeri) and Kangaroo Island narrow leaf peppermint (E. cneorifolia).

The Productive Perennials for Biodiversity project is determining the contribution that productive perennials, including oil mallees, can make to the conservation of biodiversity in farming landscapes.

Below is a link to a historical document relevant to Oil Mallees.