Agarwood vs Cider Gum

Aquilaria malaccensis compared with Eucalyptus gunnii

Key Differences

• Agarwood is Critically Endangered while Cider Gum is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Agarwood	Cider Gum
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Malvales (Malvales)	Myrtales (Myrtales)
Family	Thymelaeaceae	Myrtaceae
Genus	Aquilaria	Eucalyptus
Species	Aquilaria malaccensis	Eucalyptus gunnii

Evolutionary Relationship

Agarwood and Cider Gum share a common ancestor at the Class level: Magnoliopsida. (Dicots)

Conservation Status

Agarwood

CR — Critically Endangered

Cider Gum

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Agarwood	Cider Gum
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Agarwood

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests within the Indomalayan biogeographic realm.

Range

Found in Taiwan. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Cider Gum

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found across Europe (9 countries) and South America (Brazil).

Agarwood

The Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) is a species in the genus Aquilaria. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests within the Indomalayan biogeographic realm.

Cider Gum

The cider gum (Eucalyptus gunnii) is a medium to large eucalyptus tree native to the highlands of Tasmania, Australia, where it grows at elevations up to 1,400 meters in subalpine and montane environments. It is one of the most cold-hardy eucalypts, tolerating severe frosts and occasional snow, which has made it widely popular in cultivation far beyond its native range, particularly in Britain, Ireland, France, and other temperate parts of Europe. In Tasmania, cider gum typically grows along the margins of highland lakes and in subalpine moorland and wet sclerophyll communities. The species reaches 15–35 meters in height, with smooth, pale gray-green to white bark that peels in ribbons. Young foliage is distinctive round and silver-blue, aging to more elongated sickle-shaped adult leaves. The name cider gum derives from the practice of Tasmanian Aboriginal people fermenting the sweet sap that pools in natural wounds to produce a mildly fermented drink. The species is classified as Not Evaluated by the IUCN. Eucalyptus gunnii provides habitat for several Tasmanian endemic species and is considered an important component of highland vegetation communities. In its introduced European range, it is a popular ornamental and windbreak tree. Concerns exist about its naturalization in some European countries where it has established self-sustaining populations.