The lighter coloured trees are Errinundra Shining Gums, eucalyptus denticulata, about 400 years old. This age estimate comes from counting the rings on the stumps of adjacent trees which were felled, so is accurate within 50 years. It is also consistent with tree aging described by Chesterfield, Evan A. (1996) "Changes in mixed forest after fire and after clearfelling silviculture on the Errinundra Plateau". Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria. He described a generation of trees about this age, plus an older generation of which a few scattered trees remain that are over 600 years old. The giant at rear right also an Errinundra Shining Gum of that generation, nicknamed The Big Mama Tree.
At rear left, with the mottled trunks are Silver Wattles. These often re-grow firest after a fire and are relatively short lived. These ones are about 120 years old. They provide an important food source for the nectar feeding birds & gliders.
Behind them and continuing to front right are Sassafras, a rainforest tree.

The Department decided this was not rainforest, as the total area of the stand was less than 0.4 ha. This contradicts the biological definition, which describes a forest type by the species that make it up. The Sassafras shown have a closed canopy, fulfilling the rainforest definition of being more than 70% rainforest trees and more than 50% canopy cover. Technically, this is a Cool Temperate Rainforest, listed as threatened in the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. The Act specifies an aim of "allowing the ongoing evolution" of the flora community, which would require protecting not only these small stands, but also a buffer around them and the adjacent rainforest eco-tones.
When eucalypts grow, they typically go through several growth phases:
- immature, upto 80 years old, put all their effort into reaching full height. They shed their lower branches wehn the leaves no longer get enough sun.
- mature, 80-200 years old, have reached full height and gain volume by fattening the trunk and branches. They may shed upper or lower branches, optimising themselves to their environment.
- overmature, 200-350 years old, slowly grow to their maximum size. They start to hollow through the center and decay. They often lose upper branches from storm damage & lightning strikes, and form hollows. These hollow-bearing trees are favoured habitat for species such as possums, gliders, owls, parrots and bats.
- senescing, 350-600 or more years old, these trees decay more than they grow, and are often seen with completely hollow trunks. The trunk continues to hollow until the tree falls over.
These ages and phases vary with the local environment.