tumble-down swamp gum  |  

The Warby Range swamp gum is a spreading tree growing to 25 m high. It has a characteristic
leaning habit, thus the speciesÕ name is derived from the Latin cadere Ôto fall downÕ. The first 10
m of the trunk is rough, compact bark, with smooth, ribbony, green-grey bark developing further
up the tree. The juvenile leaves are greenish-grey, elliptic to ovate, to 50 mm long and 20 mm
wide, with smooth to crenulate (finely scalloped or notched outline or edge) margins, sessile
(without stalks) and initially opposite but becoming alternate. New growth is quite glaucous (waxy
greyish-blue bloom), which distinguishes it from its close relative Eucalyptus aggregata. Adult
leaves are bluish-green, narrow and elliptic, 70Ð50 mm long and 10Ð20 mm wide. Inflorescences
(flower stems) grow from the leaf axil (angle between the upper side of the leaf and the main
stem), with seven flowers and stalks up to 6 mm long. Buds are stalked, tapering at both ends, 3
mm in diameter, up to 8 mm long, and with a conical operculum (lid). Flowers are white with four
ovules. Fruit is inversely conical, relatively sessile, 6 mm in diameter and up to 5 mm long
(Briggs & Crisp 1989).