Snow Gum - native (Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp pauciflora)

Snow Gums have a remarkable distribution, from the alpine regions, to sea level in the Mornington Peninsula. They are uncommon locally. There are several stands at Elphinstone. These trees are probably relics of the last ice age. They are more common further south e.g. near Kyneton and Trentham.

Recognise Snow Gums by:

• the almost parallel veins in the leathery leaves
• the juvenile leaves, which resemble the adult leaves
• the (usually) straggling habit
• the buds and fruit.

Snow Gums often grow locally with Candlebarks. The Candlebarks differ in usually being larger trees, the leaf veins diverge at an angle, and the juvenile leaves are round, stalkless and in opposite pairs.

R: Buds and nuts. The buds have beome wrinkled as they dried.

1: Snow Gums growing with Candlebark (the larger trees. Pollards Road. The juvenile drooping, parallel-veined juvenile leaves of Snow Gum are distinctive. 2: Snow Gum in Owens Lane. Elphinstone.

3: Snow Gum copse. Ross Creek. 4: Snow Gum trunk. Falls Creek.

5: Juvenile leaves. Planted specimen, Victoria Gully. The parallel veins are distinctive. 6: Snow Gums on the summit of Mt Macedon. 7: Snow Gum. Tarrawarra.