Thread: E. Ovata (Swamp Gum) Yes or No

The swamp gum down here on the edge of the Otways is a reasonable timber.
Don't know the botanical name
The tree looks very similar to manna gum (e.viminalis)
Has a pinkish timber with white sapwood.
Definately not a durable timber
Makes good firewood.

But theres probably heaps of different trees all called swamp gum

Outback

I have never come across the timber myself and can't comment on it, but I'll quote what Forest Trees of Australia says Quote
(WOOD: Heartwood, pale, not very durable; density about 700kg/m3; not utilised extensively though sawn occasionally in Victoria and used for local farm requirements)
Now that should have told you everything you needed to know about E. Ovata (Swamp Gum). I'm quite sure that everyone knows what "farm requirements" are? :confused:

Give it a go anyway, you will know yourself for future reference.

regards

Thanks for the help. Can be frustrating when so many trees are known by the same name. The swamp Gum which Bruce describes sounds more the type we have here. Not really the same as Echnidna, as it won't really burn. I might give it a miss this time.

Swamp Gum- e.ovata. This common name also applied to Tasmanian Oak and Mountain Ash - e.regnans in some areas - very confusing! :confused:
(ref: "Field Guide to Eucalypts" Brooker & Kleinig)

Geez, now I'm more confoosed than ever.

What other choices do I have for a tree known as swamp gum. Rots out when placed in the ground as quick as you bury it, (well 2 years anyway) doesn't like to burn, grows in poorly drained/wet areas and creek lines, smooth white bark, light coloured timber?

Originally Posted by outback

Geez, now I'm more confoosed than ever.

What other choices do I have for a tree known as swamp gum. Rots out when placed in the ground as quick as you bury it, (well 2 years anyway) doesn't like to burn, grows in poorly drained/wet areas and creek lines, smooth white bark, light coloured timber?

Swamp Gum Eucalyptus camphora NATnever heard of this one before
Swamp Gum Eucalyptus ovata FTA
Swamp Gum Eucalyptus regnans FTA
Swamp Gum Eucalyptus rudis FTA-related to ovata but WA native and is unstable in ground but the timber is pinkish.

Family MYRTACEAE

E-ovata............swamp gum
Small to medium size tree,8-25m, varying from poorly formed with sparse foliage at ends of long branches, to taller and straighter with denser dark crown. widespread and common on periodicallyswampy flats and poorly drained slopes and hollows, near coastal and in foothills ( to about 800m) in open foresture stands or found with swamp paper bark as understory in eastern half, or with other eucs eg; Manna gum or Messmate
Bark , darkhard rought, shed in ribbons from upper trunk and branches leaving smooth greyish surface
Ussually hybridises, can aid drainage of wet soils. A distinctive moist forest population in Vic Otways.
Also known as E brookerana this is usually taller straighter with dense crown
source Costermans.
My guess? Probably OK indoors.

Originally Posted by ribot

My guess? Probably OK indoors.

Yeh, but that's what I thought about my missus before I married.

Thanks for the info, hopefully early next week I'll be hacking away at some Red Gum. (E. Blakelyi) with the almost finished homemade Alaskan mill. I haven't had my heart set on fire with what I've found out about swamp gum, think I'll give it a miss just for know. MAybe when I get a spare minute I'll try some and see what happens.