Corymbia arafurica facts for kids

Corymbia arafurica is a special kind of tree that grows only in the Northern Territory of Australia. It's often called the Arafura Gum. This tree is known for its smooth, powdery bark and its pretty creamy-white flowers. It's a unique part of Australia's natural world.

What is the Arafura Gum?

Corymbia arafurica is a tree that usually grows up to 15 meters (about 49 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it gets damaged, for example, by fire.

Its Amazing Bark and Leaves

The bark of the Arafura Gum is smooth and can be powdery white or greyish. It peels off in thin pieces. Sometimes, the very bottom of the trunk has a short section of rough bark.

Young plants and new shoots have dull green leaves that are shaped like an egg or a spear. They can be quite large, about 15 to 25 centimeters (6 to 10 inches) long and 7 to 12 centimeters (3 to 5 inches) wide.

As the tree gets older, its adult leaves become glossy green on both sides. They are also spear-shaped, measuring about 8 to 21 centimeters (3 to 8 inches) long and 1.3 to 5.5 centimeters (0.5 to 2 inches) wide. These leaves grow on a small stalk called a petiole, which is about 0.5 to 2.6 centimeters (0.2 to 1 inch) long.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of the Arafura Gum grow in groups. These groups are found where the leaves meet the stem, in a spot called a leaf axil. Each group of flowers has either three or seven buds. These buds grow on a small stalk called a peduncle. Each individual flower bud also has its own tiny stalk, called a pedicel.

When the buds are ready to open, they are shaped like a pear. They are about 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) wide. The top part of the bud, which covers the flower, is called an operculum. It's usually rounded, but sometimes it can be a bit pointed.

The Arafura Gum blooms from September to October, and its flowers are a lovely creamy white color. After the flowers, the tree produces a woody fruit. This fruit is a capsule that looks like a cylinder or a barrel. It's about 9 to 12 millimeters (0.35 to 0.47 inches) long and 6 to 10 millimeters (0.24 to 0.39 inches) wide. The parts that release the seeds are hidden inside the fruit.

How Did It Get Its Name?

The Arafura Gum was first officially described by two botanists, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson, in 1995. They studied samples of the tree that were collected near a place called Oenpelli way back in 1948.

The second part of its scientific name, arafurica, tells us something about where the tree grows. It refers to the Arafura Sea, which is a sea located near the area where this tree is found.

Sometimes, scientists discuss if this species might be the same as another tree called C. papuana. This is part of how scientists work to understand and name all the different plants in the world.

Where Does It Grow?

This special eucalypt tree is very common in the wetter parts of the Top End of the Northern Territory. You can often find it growing near watercourses and on higher land. It grows in an area stretching between Port Keats, Darwin, Yirrkala, and the Wessel Islands.