black gum  |  

Eucalyptus aggregata, black gum, is a small to medium sized woodland tree that grows
18Ð20 m tall (Benson and McDougall, 1998; Hill, 2002), although the Victorian Department of
Sustainability and Environment (DSE) (2004) states that it grows to 25 m. The bark on the trunk
and main branches is dark grey to black, deeply fibrous or flaky, which does not shed annually
(Hill, 2002). The smaller branches (<8 cm diameter) are covered in smooth white, cream or grey bark which does shed yearly (Brooker et al., 2002; Hill, 2002). The adult leaves are slightly curved and round-ended, approximately 5Ð12 cm long and 1Ð2 cm wide. They are a glossy dark green, have the same colour on each surface and contain leaf oils with a distinctive, clove-like odour (Brooker et al., 2002; DSE, 2004; NSW OEH, 2013). Juvenile leaves are narrow or oval shaped, are arranged opposite each other and are a dull green in colour (Hill, 2002), although they may vary considerably in a single seedlot (Brooker et al., 2002). The buds, flowers and fruits occur in tight clusters of seven on stalks 3Ð4 mm long. The buds are egg-shaped, 3Ð5 mm long and 2Ð3 mm wide (Hill, 2002; NSW OEH, 2013). The flowers are white or cream and are Eucalyptus aggregata (black gum) Conservation Advice - Page 2 of 14 followed by capsules which are cone or cup shaped, 2Ð4 mm long and 3Ð5 mm wide (Brooker et al., 2002; Hill, 2002).