Eucalyptus moluccana, commonly known as the grey box or gum-topped box, is a medium-sized to occasionally tall tree with rough, persistent bark on the lower trunk, shedding above to leave a smooth whitish or light grey, sometimes shiny surface; hence the original name Eucalyptus hemiphloia, from the Ancient Greek hemi- "half", -phloia or phloos "bark". The adult leaves are stalked, broad lanceolate to lanceolate, to 14 x 3.5 cm, glossy, green, with numerous oil glands. The white flowers appear in mid summer to mid autmmn.