Apple jack facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Apple jack |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
splendens
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The apple jack tree, also known as Eucalyptus splendens, is a special type of small tree. It grows only in a tiny part of Victoria, Australia. This tree has rough bark, long leaves, white flowers, and roundish fruits.
Contents
What Does the Apple Jack Tree Look Like?
The apple jack tree usually grows up to 10 m (33 ft) (about 33 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it gets damaged.
Bark and Branches
The main trunk and bigger branches have rough, firm bark. It can feel fibrous or corky. The thinner branches have smooth, light brown bark. You might notice that the very small branches, called branchlets, are a bright yellow color.
Leaves
- Young Leaves: When the plant is young, or when new shoots grow from the base (called coppice regrowth), the stems are square. Their leaves are shiny green and shaped like a spear (lance-shaped). They are about 45–90 mm (1.8–3.5 in) long and 10–25 mm (0.39–0.98 in) wide.
- Adult Leaves: The leaves on older trees are also spear-shaped, but sometimes a bit curved. They are longer, about 100–250 mm (3.9–9.8 in) long and 15–25 mm (0.59–0.98 in) wide. Each leaf has a stalk, called a petiole, which is about 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The apple jack tree has white flowers. Before they open, the flower buds grow in groups of seven. These groups are found where the leaves meet the stem (called a leaf axil). Each group of buds sits on a small stalk called a peduncle, which is about 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long. The individual buds have even smaller stalks, called pedicels, about 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) long.
Flower Buds
Mature flower buds are oval or spindle-shaped. They are about 5 mm (0.20 in) long and 2–33 mm (0.079–1.299 in) wide. Each bud has a cone-shaped cap on top, called an operculum. This cap falls off when the flower opens.
Fruit
After the flowers bloom, they turn into a woody fruit. This fruit is shaped like half a sphere or a cup. It's called a capsule and is about 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) wide. When the fruit is ripe, parts of it stick out.
How the Apple Jack Tree Got Its Name
The scientific name for the apple jack tree is Eucalyptus splendens. It was first officially described in 1996 by a scientist named Kevin James Rule. He wrote about it in a science journal called Muelleria.
The second part of its scientific name, splendens, comes from a Latin word. It means "shining," "gleaming," or "brilliant." This name was chosen because of the bright green, shiny leaves found on young apple jack plants.
Where Does the Apple Jack Tree Grow?
The apple jack tree is very rare! It is only found in one known place in the world. This special spot is near Mount Richmond, which is north-west of Portland in Victoria, Australia. It grows in heavy soils that came from volcanoes.
