Barrington Tops marara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barrington Tops marara |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Vesselowskya venusta at Gloucester Tops, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Vesselowskya
|
| Species: |
venusta
|
The Barrington Tops marara (scientific name: Vesselowskya venusta) is a special plant found only in the rainforests of eastern New South Wales, Australia. Its scientific name, venusta, comes from a Latin word meaning "charming." This refers to its beautiful, long flower stems. The plant's genus, Vesselowskya, was named after a Russian botanist named E. Vesselowsky.
Where Does the Barrington Tops Marara Live?
This plant loves cool, wet places. You can often find it growing near creeks in rainforest areas. It especially likes to grow near the Antarctic beech, which is another unique tree. The Barrington Tops marara lives in a specific region, from Barrington Tops in the south up to Werrikimbe National Park further north.
What Does the Barrington Tops Marara Look Like?
The Barrington Tops marara can be a large bush or a small tree. It can grow up to 8 metres (about 25 feet) tall. Its trunk can be up to 25 centimetres (about 10 inches) wide. Often, it has many stems and a trunk that looks like a cylinder. The bark is usually smooth and can be fawn (light brown) or brown. It sometimes has small bumps that form vertical lines on the bark.
Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit
The leaves of the Barrington Tops marara grow in a special way. They are arranged opposite each other on the stem, often in groups of three or five. Each leaf is usually 8 to 17 centimetres long and 3 to 6 centimetres wide. The smaller leaflets are found at the bottom of the leaf, while the ones at the top are larger. The edges of the leaflets are serrated, meaning they have small, sharp teeth, and they end in a clear point.
The flowers appear between October and November. They grow on long stems called racemes. The top part of the flower's anther (which holds the pollen) is rounded. The Sepals, which are like small leaves protecting the flower bud, have a row of tiny hairs on their outside.
After the flowers, the fruit develops from March to June. The fruit is a pale brown, hairy capsule. Inside are tiny seeds. Because the seeds are so small, they only need a very light covering of soil if you were to plant them.
