Auranticarpa rhombifolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Auranticarpa rhombifolia |
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| Trunk of A. rhombifolia | |
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| Genus: |
Auranticarpa
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| Species: |
rhombifolia
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The Auranticarpa rhombifolia is a beautiful rainforest tree from eastern Australia. It's often called the diamond leaf pittosporum because of its unique leaf shape. People love to plant this tree in their gardens and along streets. Its pretty white flowers and bright orange fruits make it a very attractive sight. Other common names for this tree include hollywood, diamond leaf laurel, white myrtle, and white holly.
Recently, Australian scientists looked closely at a large group of trees called Pittosporum. They found that the trees growing in the northern parts of Australia were quite different from those in the south. Because of these differences, they created a new group, or genus, for the northern trees. This new genus was named Auranticarpa, which means "gold fruit" – a perfect name for a tree with bright orange fruits!
Where It Grows
This tree naturally grows in special red-brown soils that come from old volcanic rock. You can find it from the Richmond River in New South Wales all the way up to Forty Mile Scrub National Park in tropical Queensland.
What It Looks Like
The diamond leaf pittosporum is usually a small tree. It can grow up to 25 meters (about 82 feet) tall. Its trunk can be as wide as 45 centimeters (about 18 inches). The bark is grey and not smooth; it feels a bit rough, almost like cork.
Its leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the branches. They are shaped like a rhomboid, which is a bit like a diamond. The leaves are usually 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long and 4 to 7 centimeters (1.5 to 2.7 inches) wide. The top half of the leaf has uneven, jagged edges, but the part closer to the stem is smooth. You can easily see the main vein and all the smaller veins on both the top and bottom of the leaves.
Flowers and Fruit
Small, white flowers grow in clusters at the ends of the branches. These flowers appear from November to January. After the flowers, the tree produces orange, pear-shaped fruits. Each fruit is about 9 millimeters (0.35 inches) long. Inside, there are two or three black, oval-shaped seeds. The fruits ripen from February to May. If you try to grow new trees from fresh seeds, it can take a long time, sometimes up to four months, for the seeds to sprout. Only about one-third of the seeds will usually grow.
How People Use It
This tree is very popular for planting in gardens and parks. It makes a great ornamental tree because of its beautiful leaves, flowers, and bright orange fruits. To get the best display of its orange fruits, the tree needs to be planted in a spot that gets lots of sunshine. It also needs soil that drains water well, so its roots don't get too wet.
See also
In Spanish: Auranticarpa rhombifolia para niños
