Backhousia tetraptera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Backhousia tetraptera |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Backhousia
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| Species: |
tetraptera
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The Backhousia tetraptera is a unique tree that belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which includes many well-known plants like eucalyptus. This special tree is found only in one place in the world! It grows at the base of Mount Stuart, a mountain close to the city of Townsville in Queensland, Australia.
Discovering the Backhousia tetraptera
This amazing tree was officially given its name and described by scientists in 2012. It's quite new to the world of science, making it an exciting discovery!
What It Looks Like
The Backhousia tetraptera is a medium-sized tree. It can grow to be between 5 and 12 metres tall, which is about the height of a two or three-story building.
Many of these trees have several trunks instead of just one. Their bark is very interesting, with a mix of grey, grey-brown, and even pink colours that peel off in flakes.
The leaves of the tree are simple and grow in pairs opposite each other on the branches. They are usually between 5.5 and 9 centimetres long and 1.5 to 3.8 centimetres wide.
How It Flowers and Fruits
When it's time for the tree to flower, beautiful white blossoms appear in groups of about 10. Each flower has many tiny parts called stamens, usually between 56 and 65 of them!
These flowers start to grow about four weeks after the first big rain of the wet season. This rain helps to trigger the flowering process.
After the flowers, the tree produces very special fruits. These fruits are like small capsules and have four distinct wings. They grow in clusters and change colour as they ripen, going from pink to white, and then drying to a brown colour.
