About Eucalyptus ovata Labill.
Eucalyptus ovata Labill. (swamp gum) is a tree that typically grows to a height of 17–30 m (56–98 ft) and forms a lignotuber. Its growth habit is variable: it grows as a straggly sapling in east Gippsland, and has a stout trunk in other regions. It has smooth new bark in shades of grey, whitish, or pinkish-grey; larger trees sometimes have loose rough bark near their base. Young plants and coppice regrowth have elliptical to egg-shaped leaves that are 30–85 mm (1.2–3.3 in) long and 25–60 mm (0.98–2.36 in) wide. Adult leaves are glossy green and the same shade on both sides, shaped from lance-shaped to egg-shaped. They are 80–180 mm (3.1–7.1 in) long, 16–50 mm (0.63–1.97 in) wide, and taper to a 15–33 mm (0.59–1.30 in) long petiole. Flower buds are arranged in leaf axils on an unbranched peduncle 3–14 mm (0.12–0.55 in) long, with individual buds attached to 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long pedicels. Mature buds are diamond-shaped, 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in) long, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide, and have a conical operculum. Flowering occurs mainly from June to November, and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody capsule shaped from conical to slightly bell-shaped, 3–8 mm (0.12–0.31 in) long, 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) wide, with valves located near the rim of the capsule. Swamp gum is widespread in south-eastern Australia. Its distribution ranges from the western end of Kangaroo Island and the southern Mount Lofty Ranges in south-eastern South Australia, through Tasmania and the southern half of Victoria, to south-eastern New South Wales, extending north as far as Oberon and Hill Top. It grows in grassy woodland in low-lying, temporarily or permanently damp sites. In Victoria, this species is known to hybridize with Eucalyptus camaldulensis to form Eucalyptus ×studleyensis.
