Eucalyptus cypellocarpa

Eucalyptus cypellocarpa, commonly known as mountain grey gum, mountain gum, or monkey gum, is a tall, straight forest tree endemic to south eastern Australia, typically found in cooler, elevated regions across Victoria and New South Wales. It’s a defining component of montane wet sclerophyll forest, contributing to the tall, layered canopy structure that characterises this forest type.

Description

The species typically grows to 25–65 metres, occasionally taller, with an upright form and dense canopy. Its bark is smooth and grey-white to yellowish, shedding in long ribbons or strips, with only a thin band of rough bark persisting at the base of the trunk. Leaves pass through distinct juvenile and adult phases: juvenile leaves are broad and stalkless, while adult leaves are glossy, dark green, and lance-shaped to curved. Flowers appear in clusters of seven, white, with goblet- or barrel-shaped fruit — flowering typically occurs between December and July.

The tree prefers deep, moist soil in gullies and on slopes, and tolerates light frosts — conditions consistent with the damp, high-rainfall forest environments it’s found in.

Position in this vault

Mountain grey gum represents the tall eucalypt canopy layer of the wet sclerophyll forests that share this vault’s namesake habitat with Eucalyptus fastigata — both species commonly co-occur in the same cool, wet, south eastern Australian forest communities.