Bumpy Satinash facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bumpy Satinash |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Syzygium
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| Species: |
cormiflorum
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| Synonyms | |
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Eugenia hislopii F.M.Bailey |
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The bumpy satinash (scientific name: Syzygium cormiflorum) is a special tree. It grows only in Queensland, in northeastern Australia. People often call it the bumpy satinash because of its unique trunk. It is also known as the white apple or wild apple.
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What's in a Name?
Scientists give every living thing a special name. This helps them organize and study nature.
How the Bumpy Satinash Got Its Name
A scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller first described this tree in 1865. He called it Eugenia cormiflora. He found it near Rockingham Bay in Queensland. Later, in 1983, it was moved to the Syzygium group of trees. Another old name for it, Eugenia hislopii, is now considered the same tree.
Other Names for This Tree
Besides bumpy satinash, people also call this tree by other names. These include white apple, wild apple, watergum, and Cairns satinash.
What Does It Look Like?
The bumpy satinash is a tall rainforest tree. It can grow up to 30 meters (about 100 feet) high. Its trunk can be 1 meter (about 3 feet) wide.
Trunk and Bark
Some bumpy satinash trees have flowers growing right on their trunks. These trees often have a very bumpy trunk. Very large trees can have wide, strong bases called buttresses. The bark is rough and peels off in flakes.
Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit
The leaves are usually about 12.7 cm (5 inches) long and 5.5 cm (2 inches) wide. They can be bigger or smaller. Flowers grow on the trunk or larger branches. They appear almost all year, except in December and January. The most flowers bloom from July to September. After the flowers, the tree grows white or cream-colored fruit. These fruits are round and measure 3 to 6 cm (1 to 2.5 inches) across.
Where Does It Live?
The bumpy satinash tree grows in rainforests. You can find it from Townsville up to the Iron Range in Queensland. It grows from sea level up to 1200 meters (about 3900 feet) high. Trees with flowers on their trunks are more common at higher places. Trees with flowers on their branches are more common at lower places.
Who Uses This Tree?
The fruit of the bumpy satinash is not very tasty for humans. But it's a different story for animals!
Animals and the Bumpy Satinash
The southern cassowary, a large bird, loves to eat the fruit and flowers. A type of ant called the odoriferous black ant (Anonychomyrma gilberti) also uses the tree. These ants dig many tunnels in the bumpy parts of the trunk where flowers grow.
Can You Grow It?
The bumpy satinash is not often grown in gardens. If you want to grow one, you usually start it from a seed. It can take a long time for the tree to flower, sometimes 8 to 12 years! It grows best in warm, wet climates.
