Brown gardenia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brown gardenia |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Atractocarpus
|
| Species: |
fitzalanii
|
| Synonyms | |
The Brown Gardenia (scientific name: Atractocarpus fitzalanii) is a beautiful flowering plant. It is found in the warm, tropical areas of Queensland, Australia. This plant is famous for its lovely smelling flowers and shiny green leaves. People often grow it in their gardens because it looks great and smells wonderful! It is also sometimes called the Yellow Mangosteen.
Contents
What Does the Brown Gardenia Look Like?
.jpg)
The Brown Gardenia grows as a woody bush or a small tree. It can reach a height of about 3 to 10 meters (which is about 10 to 33 feet) tall. Its trunk has smooth, grey bark.
The leaves are large and glossy, meaning they are shiny and dark green. They are shaped like an oval or a spoon. Each leaf is usually about 10 to 18 centimeters (4 to 7 inches) long and 3 to 5 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) wide. You can easily see the yellowish veins and the main line (midrib) on the leaves. When new leaves grow, they are a bright lime green color.
Small, white, and very fragrant flowers appear from September to November. These flowers are about 2 to 2.5 centimeters (about 1 inch) across. They grow one by one and have five pointed petals around a tube shape. The smell of these flowers is very similar to the common gardenia.
The fruit of the Brown Gardenia is round or oval-shaped. It is about 3 to 4 centimeters (1 to 1.5 inches) wide. The fruit ripens between April and June. You can even eat the fruit fresh!
Where Does the Brown Gardenia Grow?
The Brown Gardenia grows in a wide area of Queensland, Australia. Its range stretches from the very far north of Queensland down to a city called Mackay. You can find this plant in rainforests and other places that are sheltered from strong winds or harsh sun.
How Does the Brown Gardenia Live?
The flowers of the Brown Gardenia open in the afternoon. When they open, moths come to visit the plants. These moths help the plant by carrying pollen from one flower to another. Birds also enjoy eating the fruit of the Brown Gardenia.
What Is the Brown Gardenia Used For?
The Brown Gardenia is a great plant for gardens, especially in places with a warm climate. It has thick, bushy leaves and bright new growth that looks very attractive. Its flowers smell wonderful, and its fruit is tasty and safe to eat.
Because of these features, it is a popular choice for people who want to grow beautiful plants. It grows best in a shady spot in a garden where the soil drains well. You can also grow it indoors in a pot, as long as it gets a moderate to bright amount of light.
How Did the Brown Gardenia Get Its Name?
The scientific name of this plant, Atractocarpus fitzalanii, has an interesting history. It was first described by a German scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He was a very important botanist (plant scientist) for the state of Victoria in Australia.
Mueller named the plant fitzalanii to honor Eugene Fitzalan. Eugene Fitzalan was the first person to collect a sample of this plant. For many years, the plant was known by a different scientific name, Randia fitzalanii. However, in 1999, two botanists, Christopher Puttock and Christopher Quinn, studied the plant again. They changed its scientific name to its current one, Atractocarpus fitzalanii.
Are There Different Types of Brown Gardenia?
Yes, scientists have recognized two slightly different types, or subspecies, of the Brown Gardenia:
- Atractocarpus fitzalanii subspecies fitzalanii
- Atractocarpus fitzalanii subspecies tenuipes
The name tenuipes comes from two Latin words. Tenuis means "slender," and pes means "foot." This name likely describes a part of the plant that is slender or thin.
