Leatherwood

Leatherwood has sweet-smelling white flowers that bloom in December and January. Bees love the flowers, and Tasmania is the only place where Leatherwood honey is made.

Leatherwood is a rainforest tree, usually growing underneath myrtle and celery-top pine. It grows to between 10 and 15 metres (32 to 50 feet), but can reach 30 metres (98 feet). The bark ranges from dark green to greyish brown, is smooth and is often covered with lichen. The young leaves and buds are covered with a clear orange or brownish gum - the leather-colour of this gum gives the tree its name.

Leatherwood is endemic to Tasmania and can be seen at the Julius River rainforest walk in the north and the Tahune Forest Reserve, south of Hobart.

There is also a second species, dwarf leatherwood, in Tasmania.