Eucalyptus ovata Labill.
Medium-sized or large tree; bark persistent on lower part of trunk, smooth and grey on upper trunk and main branches. Juvenile lvs opposite at first, petiolate, ovate to orbicular, undulate; base broad and symmetric. Adult lvs with petiole 1-2 cm long; lamina 6-15 × 1.3-4.2 cm, lanceolate-elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, coriaceous, undulate, with lateral veins diverging at 30-50° from midrib; base symmetric; apex acute to acuminate. Umbels axillary, of 3-7 fls; peduncles 6-10 mm long, terete or subterete; pedicels < 3 mm long. Buds 6-7 mm long, diamond-shaped or broad-ellipsoid, green; operculum apiculate to conic, = or slightly < hypanthium. Stamens white; anthers oblong. Fr. shortly pedicellate, 4-6 × 5-6 mm, obconic with truncate apex; valves 3-4, enclosed or almost level with disc; disc rather narrow, flat or slightly convex.
N.: Glen Eden (Auckland), Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Whakarewarewa State Forest Park and Taupo areas.
S.E. Australia, Tasmania 1957
Along roadsides and amongst scrub.
FL Jul-Mar.
E. ovata has been widely cultivated in N.Z., especially in cooler areas. As with some other eucalypts the lvs are often badly attacked by phytophagous Coleoptera. In Australia it is known as swamp gum.
