Axe-breaker facts for kids

Coatesia paniculata is a special tree found only in eastern Australia. It's often called axe-breaker or capivi. This small, evergreen tree has simple leaves that are shaped like an oval or an egg. It grows white flowers in clusters and produces fruits that contain a single black seed.

About the Axe-Breaker Tree

Coatesia paniculata is a tree that usually grows between 3 and 12 meters tall. That's about the height of a one to three-story building!

Leaves and Scent

Its leaves are simple and shaped like an ellipse or an egg. They are about 4 to 10 centimeters long and 1.5 to 4.5 centimeters wide. The leaves sit on a stalk called a petiole, which is about 1 centimeter long.

The leaves are smooth and shiny, with a dark green top surface and a lighter underside. If you crush them, they have a strong, pleasant smell.

Flowers and Fruit

The white flowers grow in clusters at the ends of the branches or where the leaves meet the stem. These flower clusters can be 1.5 to 9 centimeters long. Each flower has five small green parts called sepals at its base. It also has five white petals, which are about 2.5 to 3 millimeters long. Inside the flower, there are five stamens, which are shorter than the petals.

This tree flowers from April to May. After flowering, it produces oval-shaped fruits. These fruits are about 8 to 9 millimeters long and contain one shiny black seed in each part. The fruit is made up of two or three sections called follicles.

How Scientists Named This Tree

The group of plants called Coatesia and this specific tree, Coatesia paniculata, were first officially described in 1862. This was done by a famous botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He wrote about it in his book called Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.

Where the Axe-Breaker Tree Grows

Coatesia paniculata lives in rainforests, especially dry rainforests. You can find it in central-eastern Queensland, near a place called Mount Abbot. It also grows south into north-eastern New South Wales.

Protecting the Axe-Breaker Tree

The way this tree is protected depends on where it grows.

Conservation in Queensland

In Queensland, the government considers Coatesia paniculata to be of "least concern." This means it's not currently at high risk of disappearing there. This status is under the Queensland Government's Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Conservation in New South Wales

However, in New South Wales, the situation is different. The government lists it as "endangered" under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. This means it's at a very high risk of becoming extinct in New South Wales.

The tree is only found in a few spots in New South Wales, like near Tweed Heads, Lismore, and Wardell. It faces threats from:

• Land clearing: When its natural habitat is removed for other uses.
• Weed invasion: When harmful plants take over its growing areas.
• Grazing: When farm animals eat the young trees.