Atherton oak facts for kids

The Atherton oak (scientific name: Athertonia diversifolia) is a tall tree that belongs to the plant family called Proteaceae. It is the only type of tree in its special group, or genus, called Athertonia. You can find this tree only in the wet rainforests of north-eastern Queensland, Australia. It grows in places like the Atherton Tableland, which is named after an early settler, John Atherton. The Atherton oak is a relative of the Macadamia nut tree. It has tasty nuts and can also be planted as a beautiful tree in gardens.

About the Atherton Oak Tree

The Atherton oak is a unique tree from the rainforests of Australia. It's known for its interesting leaves and edible nuts. This tree is a great example of the amazing plants found in the Wet Tropics rainforests.

What's in a Name?

The Atherton oak was first described in 1918 by a botanist named C.T. White. He gave it the name diversifolia because it means "different leaves" in Latin. This is because you can find different shaped leaves on the same tree!

For a while, scientists thought it belonged to other groups of trees. But later, two other botanists, Johnson and Briggs, decided it was special enough to have its very own group, or genus, called Athertonia. So, the Atherton oak is the only tree in the Athertonia genus. People also call it the Atherton almond, White Oak, or cream silky oak.

How to Spot an Atherton Oak

The Atherton oak can grow quite tall, from about 8 to 30 meters (26 to 98 feet) high. Its trunk can be wide, sometimes reaching 30 centimeters (12 inches) across.

Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit

Young Atherton oak trees have simple, oval-shaped leaves with small teeth along the edges. As the tree grows, its leaves change! They become much larger and can be up to 60 centimeters (24 inches) long with deep lobes, like fingers. Adult leaves are also varied. They can be lobed or smooth, usually 12 to 20 centimeters (5 to 8 inches) long. New branches and young leaves are covered in soft, rusty-colored hairs.

The flowers of the Atherton oak appear from March to June. They are cream and brown and grow in long clusters, about 15 to 34 centimeters (6 to 13 inches) long. The fruit is dark blue and shaped like a lens. It's about 3.6 to 4.1 centimeters (1.4 to 1.6 inches) long. Inside, there's a hard shell with a large, crunchy, and edible nut. These nuts ripen in the spring.

Where Does it Grow?

The Atherton oak lives in the northern part of Queensland, Australia. You can find it from Cape Tribulation down to Mount Bartle Frere. It prefers rainforest areas, usually at higher altitudes, from about 700 to 1150 meters (2,300 to 3,800 feet) above sea level. It grows best in rich, volcanic soils. Sadly, much of the land where it used to grow has been cleared.

Why is it Special?

The Atherton almond, as its nut is sometimes called, is grown a little bit for its tasty nuts. It also makes a beautiful tree for large parks and gardens. Some people even use its leaves as indoor plants or in flower arrangements. It's easy to grow new trees from its seeds.

The Atherton oak is also very important to the local community. It is the special flower symbol of the Atherton shire in north Queensland. It's called an "oak" because its young leaves look a bit like those of the English oak tree. However, it's not actually related to the English oak at all!