Common yellowwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common yellowwood |
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|---|---|
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| The Big Tree, a specimen in Garden Route National Park | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Afrocarpus
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| Species: |
falcatus
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| Synonyms | |
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Afrocarpus gaussenii |
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The Outeniqua Yellowwood (scientific name: Afrocarpus falcatus) is a tall, evergreen tree. It belongs to the Podocarpaceae family, which is a group of conifers. People also call it the common yellowwood, African fern pine, or weeping yew.
This tree grows naturally in the mountain forests of southern Africa. You can find it in countries like Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, and Eswatini. The Outeniqua Yellowwood is quite common in many places. It is not considered to be in danger of disappearing. In fact, it is a protected tree in South Africa.
About the Yellowwood Tree
What it Looks Like
The Outeniqua Yellowwood is an evergreen conifer. This means it keeps its leaves all year round. It often grows to about 45 meters (148 feet) tall. Some of these trees can even reach an amazing 60 meters (197 feet) high!
The trunk of the tree can be very wide. It can measure 2 to 3 meters (6.5 to 10 feet) across. The bark is usually gray-brown or reddish in color. The leaves are small and thin. They grow in a spiral pattern around the branches. Each leaf is about 4.5 centimeters (1.8 inches) long and 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) wide.
How it Reproduces
Female Outeniqua Yellowwood trees produce fruit. They do this only every few years. The main way their seeds spread is with the help of fruit bats. These bats love to eat the soft, fleshy part of the fruit. But they do not eat the hard, woody seed inside. Instead, they drop the seeds, helping new trees to grow.
Many different birds also enjoy eating the fruits. These include large birds like hornbills and turacos. Other birds like the Cape parrot, African olive pigeon, and African green pigeon also feed on them. Even animals like Colobus monkeys, bushpigs, and small rodents eat the fruits.
See also
In Spanish: Palo amarillo hojas de hoz para niños
