Beetroot tree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beetroot tree |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Elattostachys
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| Species: |
nervosa
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| Synonyms | |
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* Cupania nervosa F.Muell. |
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The Beetroot Tree, also called the Green Tamarind, is a common tree found in the rainforests of eastern Australia. Its scientific name is Elattostachys nervosa. You can find it growing in all kinds of rainforests, from Paterson in New South Wales up to Gympie in south-east Queensland.
The name Elattostachys means "little spikes," which describes how the flowers of other plants in this group look. The word nervosa refers to the clear veins you can see on its leaves. People call it the Beetroot Tree because its new leaves are a bright, beautiful beetroot red color!
Contents
Discover the Beetroot Tree
The Beetroot Tree is a medium-sized tree. It can grow up to 30 meters tall, which is like a 10-story building! Its trunk can be as wide as 50 centimeters, but you often see smaller ones.
What Does the Trunk Look Like?
Larger Beetroot Trees often have a trunk that spreads out at the bottom, like a wide base. The bark is usually smooth and thin, like paper, and grey. Sometimes, older, wider trunks have vertical lines or stripes.
Branches and Shoots
The smaller branches are thick and brownish-grey. Near their ends, they have rusty-colored hairs. The very new shoots are covered in dense, soft hairs, almost like wool.
Leaves of the Beetroot Tree
The leaves of the Beetroot Tree are made up of several smaller leaflets. They grow in a pattern where they alternate along the stem. Each small leaflet has its own stalk, about 5 to 12 millimeters long.
Leaflet Size and Shape
The leaflets themselves are usually 8 to 16 centimeters long and 2 to 4 centimeters wide. However, new leaflets can be much longer, up to 28 centimeters, and they are often that striking red color. The edges of the leaflets can be smooth or have small notches. They are often shaped like a sickle or a spear, with a pointed or slightly rounded tip.
Seeing the Leaf Veins
You can easily see the veins on both sides of the leaf. The smaller, net-like veins are even clearer if you look at the underside of the leaf. There are usually 15 to 25 main side veins, and they stand out on both surfaces of the leaf.
Flowers of the Beetroot Tree
The Beetroot Tree produces very tiny yellow or brown flowers. These flowers grow on long stalks called racemes. You can usually see them flowering from March to May. Sometimes, they also bloom between September and November.
Fruit and How It Grows
The fruit of the Beetroot Tree is a reddish-pink, woody capsule. It has three sections inside. The outside of the fruit looks bumpy and uneven, and it's about 12 to 18 millimeters wide.
Seeds and Birds
Inside each section of the fruit, there's a pink lining and a shiny black or dark brown seed. Around the seed is a bright red covering called an aril. This red aril makes the fruit very attractive to birds, which helps spread the seeds.
How New Trees Grow
Sometimes, the fruit doesn't have seeds, which is a bit unusual! But when there are fresh seeds, they sprout very quickly. About half of the seeds will start to grow into new plants within just two weeks.
