Swamp Gum
Eucalyptus ovata
Appearance
- Bark: variable, dark and rough at the butt; upper trunk and branches peel in ribbons.
- Size: Small to medium, 20 metres tall.
- Juvenile leaves: Short-stalked, almost circular.
- Adult leaves: Thick, glossy, dark green, ovate shaped, usually has a wavy edge
- Flowers: Cluster of 3-10 (often 7), white.
- Fruit/seeds: Usually cone-shaped with a flat top
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
- Fruiting
ClimateWatch Science Advisor
In a warming climate we 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
Flowers March - November
Note: ClimateWatch is looking for any changes in the timing of these events so remember to keep a lookout all year!
Where To Look
Widespread: Coast to foothills, especially on soils poorly drained in winter, alluvial flats, valleys, flat areas
Note: ClimateWatch is looking for any changes outside of their known ranges so remember to keep a lookout beyond these regions too!
Sightings
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Search Species
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What Else?
Similar-looking species include:
- E. camphora - this species is smaller with smaller fruit and a less upright form.
- E. strzleckii and E. bunyip – distinguished by leaves: glandular (secretory structure on the surface, smooth, shiny, bead-like outgrowth), discolourous (leaf sides are different colours) juvenile leaves, glaucous (blue-green colour) new growth of adult leaves.
- E. brookeriana – distinguished by the glossy green, minutely scalloped (repeated convex curved pattern), glandular, discolourous juvenile leaves.
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Did You Know?
Lowland Leadbeater’s Possum and Helmeted Honeyeater feed on the flowers of this species, which flowers at a different time from the Mountain Swamp Gum. This overlap of flowering time provides food across an extended period for these creatures.