Corymbia disjuncta facts for kids

Corymbia disjuncta is a special kind of tree found only in northern Australia. It's known for its unique bark, which is rough on the lower part of the trunk and then suddenly becomes smooth higher up. This tree has pretty creamy white flowers and interesting fruit that looks like a cylinder or a barrel.

About the Corymbia disjuncta Tree

Corymbia disjuncta is a tree that usually grows up to 15 meters (about 50 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it gets damaged, like by a bushfire.

Bark and Leaves

The lower part of the tree's trunk has rough, greyish bark that looks like a checkerboard. Higher up, this rough bark suddenly changes to smooth, white, or light grey bark.

Young Corymbia disjuncta plants have heart-shaped leaves. These leaves are quite large, about 15 to 35 centimeters (6 to 14 inches) long and 10 to 23 centimeters (4 to 9 inches) wide. They grow in pairs directly opposite each other on the stem.

As the tree gets older, its leaves change. The leaves on mature trees are also often heart-shaped or egg-shaped. They are dull green on both sides and measure about 9 to 18 centimeters (3.5 to 7 inches) long and 5 to 12.5 centimeters (2 to 5 inches) wide. These leaves are attached to the branch by a small stalk called a petiole, which is about 1 to 3.3 centimeters (0.4 to 1.3 inches) long.

Flowers and Fruit

During the dry season, this tree loses its leaves. Then, new flowers start to grow on the bare branches, just below where the new leaves will appear.

The flower buds grow in groups, usually seven buds together. Each group of buds is on a small stalk called a peduncle, which can be up to 1.6 centimeters (0.6 inches) long. Each individual bud also has its own tiny stalk, called a pedicel, about 1.5 to 3.5 centimeters (0.6 to 1.4 inches) long.

The mature flower buds 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. Each bud has a rounded cap, called an operculum, which protects the flower inside.

Corymbia disjuncta flowers bloom from August to November. The flowers are a lovely creamy white color. After the flowers, the tree produces woody fruit. This fruit is a capsule that can be cylindrical, barrel-shaped, or urn-shaped. It's about 9 to 17 millimeters (0.35 to 0.67 inches) long and 7 to 14 millimeters (0.28 to 0.55 inches) wide. The parts that open to release the seeds are hidden inside the fruit.

How it Got its Name

The Corymbia disjuncta tree was first officially described in 1995. Two botanists, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson, gave it its scientific name. They studied samples collected by John D. Briggs in the Northern Territory in 1983.

Where it Lives

This type of eucalypt tree has a "disjunct distribution." This means it's found in different areas that are far apart, not all in one continuous region.

You can find Corymbia disjuncta in:

• The northern Kimberley region of Western Australia.
• Lowland areas and islands off the coast of the Northern Territory.
• The northern Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.
• Some southern parts of Papua New Guinea.

It likes to grow in shallow soils that are on top of basalt (a type of volcanic rock) and sandstone.