The Big Mama Tree is a 600 year old Errinundra Shining Gum, eucalyptus denticulata, growing on the side of a gully at Dingo Creek.
The cleft running down the right hand side of the tree was caused by a lighting strike. Lighting struck the top of the tree during a storm and flowed down the side of the tree through the wet bark, before earthing into the ground. The bark exploded as it was struck, leaving the channel shown. The tree has since re-grown new bark. Shining Gums usually have a "stocking" of rough bark at the base which peels off to reveal a creamy, striped, smooth trunk. The stocking on the tree extends all the way to the branches.
At front left is a Silver Wattles. Behind it is a young Shining Gum. The mixture of ages of trees in this forest proves that clearfelling and burning is not necessary for forests to propagate.
Standing next to the Big Mama Tree is Nicky Moffat, Environment Victoria's forest campaign coordinator. The bag on the ground contained "hair tubes", which were being laid as part of a threatened species survey for the Long-Footed Potoroo.
The Big Mama Tree shows no sings of hollowing, or of losing many branches, despite its age. This tree has been sheltered from fires, from strong winds and humans until recently, while growing on deep, fertile, well irrigated soil: optimum growth conditions.