Corymbia ellipsoidea facts for kids

Corymbia ellipsoidea is a type of tree that grows only in Queensland, Australia. It has rough bark on its trunk and bigger branches. Its adult leaves look like the tip of a spear. The tree usually grows its creamy white flowers in groups of seven. After flowering, it produces fruit that looks like a barrel or an urn.

What it Looks Like

Corymbia ellipsoidea is a tree that usually grows up to 12 metres (39 ft) 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.

The bark on the main trunk is rough and stays on the tree. It can be reddish-brown, dull white, cream, or grey, and looks like a checkerboard pattern. On the larger branches, the bark is reddish, scaly, or flaky and peels off in small pieces. The thinnest branches have smooth bark that is grey, pink, or cream-coloured.

The adult leaves are dull grey-green on both sides. They are long and narrow, shaped like a spear, or slightly curved. They are usually 90–175 mm (3.5–6.9 in) long and 7–23 mm (0.28–0.91 in) wide. The leaves narrow down to a flat stalk called a petiole, which is 11–28 mm (0.43–1.10 in) long.

The flowers grow at the ends of the small branches. They are on a thin, branched stalk called a peduncle, which is 8–21 mm (0.31–0.83 in) long. Each part of this stalk has three or seven flower buds on thin stems called pedicels, which are 5–11 mm (0.20–0.43 in) long.

When the buds are ready to open, they are oval or pear-shaped. They are about 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide. Each bud has a rounded or flat cap called an operculum that covers the flower parts. This tree has been seen flowering in January and February, and its flowers are white or cream-coloured.

After the flowers, the tree produces a woody fruit. This fruit is a capsule that looks like a barrel or an urn. It is 12–19 mm (0.47–0.75 in) long and 9–14 mm (0.35–0.55 in) wide. The fruit has a clear, often wide neck, and the parts that open to release seeds are tucked inside the fruit.

How it Got its Name

This type of eucalypt tree was first officially described in 1987. Two scientists, Denis Carr and Stella Carr, gave it the name Eucalyptus ellipsoidea.

Later, in 1995, two other scientists, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson, changed its name to Corymbia ellipsoidea. This happened because scientists decided that this group of trees was different enough to be in its own genus, Corymbia, separate from Eucalyptus.

Where it Lives

Corymbia ellipsoidea grows in several places in Queensland. It is found in woodlands on sandy soil, usually on granite ridges. You can find it from the Atherton Tableland in the north, southwest towards the Newcastle Range near Forsayth, and south near Charters Towers. In these areas, it is quite common.

Conservation Status

The Queensland Government has a law called the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Under this law, Corymbia ellipsoidea is listed as being of "least concern." This means that the tree is not currently at risk of disappearing.