Thornton aspen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thornton aspen |
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| Conservation status | |
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Near Threatened (NCA)
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acronychia
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| Species: |
acuminata
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The Thornton aspen (scientific name: Acronychia acuminata) is a special kind of shrub or small tree. It grows only in the rainforests of north-eastern Queensland, Australia. This tree has simple leaves, small groups of flowers that grow near the leaves, and fruits that are soft and shaped like an oval or a ball.
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What the Thornton Aspen Looks Like
The Thornton aspen is usually a tree that grows between 5 and 8 meters (about 16 to 26 feet) tall. However, it can start to flower even when it's still a small shrub.
Its stems are mostly round. The leaves are smooth and oval-shaped, measuring about 90 to 150 millimeters (3.5 to 6 inches) long and 30 to 50 millimeters (1 to 2 inches) wide. Each leaf has a stalk called a petiole that is 15 to 35 millimeters (0.6 to 1.4 inches) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers grow in small groups, about 15 millimeters (0.6 inches) long, where the leaves meet the stem (called leaf axils). Each flower sits on a tiny stalk, only 1 to 2 millimeters long.
Each flower has four small leaf-like parts called sepals, which are about 1.2 millimeters wide. It also has four petals, about 3.5 millimeters long. Inside the flower, there are eight stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen.
The Thornton aspen usually flowers in July. After flowering, it produces a soft, fleshy fruit. This fruit is either oval or round, and it's about 12 to 13 millimeters (0.5 inches) long. This type of fruit is called a drupe, which means it has a hard pit or "stone" inside.
How the Thornton Aspen Got Its Name
The Thornton aspen was officially described in 1974 by a scientist named Thomas Gordon Hartley. He wrote about it in a scientific paper called the Journal of the Arnold Arboretum.
He studied samples of the tree that were collected between the Daintree River and the Bloomfield River in Queensland. This is how the tree got its scientific name, Acronychia acuminata.
Where the Thornton Aspen Lives
The Thornton aspen grows in the rainforests of north-eastern Queensland, Australia. You can find it in areas between the Bloomfield Range and the Daintree Range. It usually grows at high places, around 600 meters (about 2,000 feet) above sea level.
Conservation Status
The Queensland Government has a special law called the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Under this law, the Thornton aspen is listed as "near threatened." This means that while it's not in immediate danger, its population could become threatened in the future if its habitat is not protected.
