Myoporum platycarpum aka Sugartree

Myoporum platycarpum, or sugarwood, is in the Scrophulariaceae family. It also goes by false sandalwood and Ngural. Its native range spans southern Australia and southeastern Queensland. This includes New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It also grows in the south of Western Australia. This evergreen takes the form of a tree or large shrub. It grows in dry shrubland and mallee plant groups. In some places, it forms the main tree cover.

In gardens, it can reach about 26 feet [8 metres] tall and wide. On deep soil that drains well, trees may reach 33 feet [10 metres]. The plant keeps its leaves all year. Livestock like the taste of the leaves and graze them. Each flower has both male and female organs. The evidence gives no flower colour or bloom season. Nor does it give details of bark or leaf shape.

Grow sugarwood in an open, sunny spot, not in shade. A sunny woodland edge or sheltered wall site suits it. It grows in sand, loam, and clay if water drains well. Wild plants often grow on poor soil rich in lime. It accepts soil from mildly acid to strongly alkaline. The soil may be dry or moist. PFAF lists USDA zones 8–11 and says it withstands frost well. Young plants may still need help against winter cold. This applies to their first few years. Plant them out once the risk of frost has passed.

Sugarwood gives dry gardens shade, shelter, and a screen. Its hard, dense wood has yellow and brown marks with black details. Woodworkers use it for veneers, which are thin sheets of wood. They also make cabinets and use it in place of sandalwood. The wood gives off a sweet scent when worked. A sweet substance called manna seeps from the stems. People have used it as glue. Reports also note resin, though this may mean the same substance. Cutting the stem does not make manna flow.

PFAF lists the fruit as food, eaten raw or cooked. It also lists the sweet manna as a local food. Yet it reports no confirmed records of toxicity for this species. That lack of records does not mean it is safe to eat. The source also notes use as a laxative, but gives no treatment details. To grow new plants, sow seed in spring. Another option is to take cuttings from shoots that are not yet fully mature. PFAF does not flag this plant as a weed.