Reproduction and propagation Eucalyptus flower buds generally take around a year to fully develop, however development takes longer in
E. coccifera and other high altitude species. Insects and birds pollinate the emergent flowers, and fertilization can take up to 20 days after
pollination.
E. coccifera flowering typically occurs between November and February.
Clinal variation The distribution of
E. coccifera is limited by altitude: rarely will it be found lower than , or higher than above sea level. Around the tree line is often unclear, and
E. coccifera can be found in small stands or even as solitary trees. At these altitudes,
E. coccifera generally grows to heights below , often blending into the alpine shrubbery at the highest reaches of its distribution. A strong correlation has been found between increasing altitude and declining stem growth rate in
E. coccifera. At the lower range of its altitudinal
cline,
E. coccifera has been observed growing to in height, but it is more commonly measured at around , especially in sheltered sites on the Central Plateau and in
Mt. Field National Park. Another factor that can impact on the growth of
E. coccifera is
mist. Mist is generally more prevalent with increasing altitude, particularly in the colder months, and can affect the ability of eucalypts (and other plants) to
photosynthesize by decreasing light penetration and increasing
condensation on leaves. The
understorey of subalpine habitats is typically dominated by woody shrubs of the families
Ericaceae (
genera Richea,
Epacris and
Cyathodes) and
Proteaceae (
Orites acicularis,
Orites revoluta). Low-lying
conifers of the
Cupressaceae (
Diselma archerii) and
Podocarpaceae (
Microachrys tetragona,
Phaerosphaera hookeriana) are also common in these sclerophyllous heaths. At lower altitudes, other eucalypt species such as
E. subcrenulata (Mt. Field),
E. urnigera (Mt. Field and Mt. Wellington) and
E. delegatensis (Mt. Field and Mt. Wellington) become increasingly common in
E. coccifera woodland. == Further reading ==