Appearance

• Bark: Smooth and grey on top trunk; dark grey, scaly and shedding in ribbons on lower trunk. 
• Size: Straggly to erect tree (up to 20m). Rounded canopy.
• Juvenile leaves:Thick, egg-shaped to round. Often notched on end. 7cm x 5cm 
• Adult leaves: dull green, broad, elliptic (shaped like a flattened circle) to egg-shaped 8-15cm x 2.5-6cm with dense veins and petioles (leaf stalks) up to 3cm
• Buds: Up to 7 narrow diamond-shaped buds <0.7cm long. Commonly 7 per cluster. Similar to E. ovata but narrower.
• Flowers: White inflorescence  (flower clusters)
• Fruit: narrow, funnel-shaped with erect, projecting valves. 0.6cm long, 0.6cm diameter. 

What to Observe

• First fully open single flower,
• Full flowering (record all days),
• End of flowering (when 95% of the flowers have faded),
• No flowering.
• Presence of fruits

ClimateWatch Science Advisor

Eucalyptus camphora is one of the most cold-adjusted Eucalypts and the sugary exudates and flowers are important food sources for Helmeted Honeyeater and lowland Leadbeater’s Possum.  In a warming climate we e expect plants to delay emergence until later and start flowering earlier in the year because of climate change warming the Earth. They may also start disappearing in areas, as warmer temperatures suppress growth and development and their ability to renegerate.

Help scientists answer the question: "How are our animals, plants and ecosystems responding to climate change?"

When To Look

Between February and November. Late winter for fallen flower caps. Flowers March to April.

Where To Look

Cold damp slopes, swampy sites and creeksides. Usually grows at higher altitudes. 

References

• L. Costermans (2006) Native Trees and Shrubs of South-Eastern Australia, Reed New Holland, Sydney
• Experts consulted: ClimateWatch Science Advisory Panel

Links

• Yarra Ranges
• Vic Flora
• WT Landcare
• PlantNET