Brown quandong facts for kids

The Brown Quandong (scientific name: Elaeocarpus coorangooloo) is a special kind of flowering tree. It's also called the Coorangooloo Quandong. This tree belongs to the Elaeocarpaceae family. It only grows naturally in one specific area: north-east Queensland, Australia. The Brown Quandong has oval-shaped leaves, white flowers with interesting petals, and round fruits.

What Does the Brown Quandong Look Like?

The Brown Quandong is a tree with unique features. Its leaves are shaped like an oval, which is called elliptic. These leaves are usually about 70 to 110 millimeters (about 3 to 4 inches) long. They are also 30 to 55 millimeters (about 1 to 2 inches) wide. The edges of the leaves are a bit wavy. When the leaves get old, they turn a bright red color before they fall off the tree.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of the Brown Quandong are white. Each flower has small leaf-like parts called sepals. These sepals are less than 14 millimeters long. The petals of the flowers are about 4.5 to 5.5 millimeters long. They have thin, finger-like parts at their tips. Inside the flowers, there are between fifteen and twenty stamens. Stamens are the parts that produce pollen.

After the flowers bloom, the tree grows fruits. These fruits are round, like a small ball. They are a type of fruit called a drupe. A drupe is a fruit with a hard pit or "stone" inside, like a peach or a cherry. The Brown Quandong's fruit is about 12 millimeters long and 9 millimeters wide.

How Was the Brown Quandong Named?

The scientific name Elaeocarpus coorangooloo was first officially described in 1917. Two scientists, John Frederick Bailey and Cyril Tenison White, gave it this name. They published their findings in a special paper called the Botany Bulletin of the Department of Agriculture, Queensland. The information they used came from plant samples. These samples were collected by a person named H.W. Mocatta. He found them in the Atherton area of Queensland.

Where Does the Brown Quandong Grow?

The Brown Quandong is a plant that is endemic to north-east Queensland. This means it only grows naturally in this specific part of the world. It has only been found in two main areas. These are the Windsor Tableland and near a place called Paluma.

This tree likes to grow in dry rainforests. It prefers higher places, usually found at altitudes of 700 to 1000 meters (about 2,300 to 3,300 feet) above sea level.

Is the Brown Quandong in Danger?

The Brown Quandong is listed as "near threatened" by the Queensland Government. This listing is under their Nature Conservation Act 1992. "Near threatened" means that the plant is not in immediate danger of disappearing. However, it could become threatened in the future if its habitat is not protected. It's important to keep an eye on these trees to make sure they continue to thrive.