Fuzzy lemon aspen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fuzzy lemon aspen |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acronychia
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| Species: |
vestita
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| Synonyms | |
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Jambolifera vestita (F.Muell.) Kuntze |
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The Fuzzy lemon aspen (scientific name: Acronychia vestita) is a special kind of rainforest tree. It is also known as white aspen, lemon aspen, or hairy aspen. This tree is endemic to Queensland, Australia. This means it grows naturally only in Queensland and nowhere else in the world!
The fuzzy lemon aspen has simple leaves that are shaped like an oval or an egg. Its flowers grow in groups, mostly where the leaves meet the stem. The tree also produces tasty, fleshy fruits that look like small pears or spheres.
Contents
What Does the Fuzzy Lemon Aspen Look Like?
The fuzzy lemon aspen is a tall tree that can grow up to about 21 meters (about 69 feet) high. That's as tall as a seven-story building!
Leaves and Stems
Its leaves are simple and shaped like an oval or an egg. They are usually 8 to 23 centimeters (about 3 to 9 inches) long and 3.8 to 11.5 centimeters (about 1.5 to 4.5 inches) wide. Each leaf has a small stem called a petiole, which is about 1 to 4 centimeters (0.4 to 1.6 inches) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the fuzzy lemon aspen grow in groups, mainly in the axils (the angle between a leaf and the stem). These flower groups are usually 4 to 7 centimeters (about 1.6 to 2.8 inches) long. Each tiny flower sits on a small stalk called a pedicel.
Each flower has four small leaf-like parts called sepals, which are about 1 to 1.5 millimeters wide. It also has four petals, which are the colorful parts of the flower, about 6 to 7.5 millimeters long. Inside the flower, there are eight stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. They are different lengths.
The fuzzy lemon aspen flowers bloom from February to March. After flowering, the tree produces a fleshy fruit. This fruit is a type of drupe, which means it has a hard pit or "stone" inside, like a peach or a cherry. The fruit is pear-shaped or round and is about 1 to 2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long.
Where Does the Fuzzy Lemon Aspen Grow?
The white aspen, or fuzzy lemon aspen, grows in rainforests. You can find it from the coast up to an altitude of 900 meters (about 2,950 feet) above sea level. It grows in the coastal areas of Queensland, Australia, specifically between the cities of Cairns and Rockingham Bay.
Is the Fuzzy Lemon Aspen Protected?
The Queensland Government has classified this species as being of "least concern" under its Nature Conservation Act 1992. This means that currently, there are plenty of these trees, and they are not considered to be in danger of disappearing.
Images for kids
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A fuzzy lemon aspen tree.
