Citronella moorei Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Citronella moorei

Giant Citronella moorei, Allyn River, Barrington Tops, Australia
Scientific classification
Genus:	Citronella (genus)
Species:	moorei
Synonyms
Villaresia moorei F.Muell. Chariessa moorei, Engl.

Citronella moorei is a very tall tree that grows in the rainforests of eastern Australia. It has many common names, such as churnwood, citronella, soapy box, silky beech, and corduroy. This tree is easy to spot because of its unique, twisted trunk.

What Does This Tree Look Like?
- Bark, Trunk, and Leaves
- Flowers, Fruit, and Seeds
Where Does This Tree Grow?
What is Citronella Moorei Used For?
Gallery
See also

What Does This Tree Look Like?

Citronella moorei is a giant tree. It can grow up to 50 metres (about 164 feet) tall and its trunk can be 2 metres (about 6.5 feet) wide. Its top, called the crown, is thick and dark green.

Bark, Trunk, and Leaves

The bark of this tree is fawn or grey. It feels rough and corky with many cracks. The trunk is very special because it's often twisted, leaning, and not perfectly round. It has deep channels or grooves, especially in older trees.

The smaller branches are thin, green, and smooth. New shoots have a fine, soft fuzz. The leaves grow one after another along the branch. They are simple, meaning they are not divided into smaller leaflets. Each leaf is about 5 to 10 centimetres (2 to 4 inches) long and 4 to 6 centimetres (1.5 to 2.5 inches) wide. Their edges are smooth, not wavy, and they end in a blunt point.

You can easily see the veins on both sides of the leaves. The main vein in the middle and four to six side veins stand out. They are even lighter in colour on the underside of the leaf.

Flowers, Fruit, and Seeds

Citronella moorei flowers from May to September. Its flowers are creamy green and grow in narrow clusters.

The fruit is a black, fleshy fruit called a drupe. It's about 2 centimetres (0.8 inches) long. The outside of the fruit is soft and juicy, while the inside has a hard seed. The fruit ripens between December and June. Many rainforest animals enjoy eating these fruits, including the green catbird, topknot pigeon, and wompoo fruit dove.

If you want to grow a new tree from the seed, it's best to remove the fleshy part first. The seeds can take a long time to sprout, sometimes starting after six months and finishing after 8 to 14 months. But once they start, almost all of them grow successfully!

Where Does This Tree Grow?

This tree likes to grow in rich soils, especially those from volcanoes or along rivers. You can find it in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate rainforests. It often grows in sheltered valleys and on slopes.

Citronella moorei is found along the eastern coast of Australia. Its range stretches from the Clyde River in New South Wales (around 35° South) all the way up to Mossman, Queensland (around 16° South) in the tropics.

What is Citronella Moorei Used For?

The timber from Citronella moorei is pale grey. It has a fine grain and noticeable patterns. The outer part of the wood, called sapwood, can be easily damaged by wood-boring insects.