Corymbia greeniana facts for kids
The Corymbia greeniana is a type of tree that grows only in northern Australia. It has rough bark on its trunk and bigger branches. Higher up, the bark is smooth. Its leaves are shaped like wide spears or eggs. The tree's flowers are creamy white and grow in groups of seven. After flowering, it produces urn-shaped fruits with a clear neck.
Quick facts for kids Corymbia greeniana |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Corymbia
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| Species: |
greeniana
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What is Corymbia greeniana?
Corymbia greeniana is a tree that usually grows to be about 10 to 15 meters (33 to 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.
The tree has rough, loose, and flaky brownish bark on its trunk and sometimes on its larger branches. Higher up, the bark is smooth and can be white or pale grey.
Young plants and new shoots that grow from the base (called coppice regrowth) have dull green leaves. These leaves are usually round or broadly egg-shaped. They are about 10 to 26 centimeters (4 to 10 inches) long and 3.5 to 18 centimeters (1.4 to 7.1 inches) wide. They also have a stalk, called a petiole.
Adult leaves are the same shade of green on both sides. They are shaped like wide spears or eggs, about 8 to 23 centimeters (3.1 to 9.1 inches) long and 2 to 7.6 centimeters (0.8 to 3.0 inches) wide. These leaves also have a petiole, which is about 1.1 to 5.6 centimeters (0.4 to 2.2 inches) long.
The tree's flower buds grow at the ends of its small branches. They are arranged on a branched stalk called a peduncle, which is 4 to 28 millimeters (0.2 to 1.1 inches) long. Each part of this stalk usually has seven, sometimes nine, buds. These buds sit on smaller stalks called pedicels, which are 2 to 18 millimeters (0.1 to 0.7 inches) long.
When the buds are ready, they are oval to pear-shaped. They are about 8 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long and 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. Each bud has a rounded cap, called an operculum, which often has a small point in the middle.
Corymbia greeniana flowers from January to May. Its flowers are a lovely creamy white color. After the flowers, the tree produces woody, urn-shaped fruits. These fruits are about 13 to 28 millimeters (0.5 to 1.1 inches) long and 11 to 22 millimeters (0.4 to 0.9 inches) wide. They have a short, upright neck, and the parts that open to release seeds (called valves) are hidden inside the fruit.
How did it get its name?
This type of eucalypt tree was first officially described in 1987 by two botanists, Denis Carr and Stella Carr. They first named it Eucalyptus greeniana.
Later, in 1995, two other botanists, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson, changed its name to Corymbia greeniana.
The second part of its scientific name, greeniana, was chosen to honor Marjorie Free. She was a curator at a herbarium, which is like a library for dried plant specimens. Her maiden name was Marjorie Green.
Where does it grow?
Corymbia greeniana grows in northern Australia. You can find it in places with red and yellow sandy soils. Sometimes, it also grows on basalt or volcanic rocks. It prefers open savannah woodlands, which are areas with scattered trees and lots of grass.
This tree is found in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It also grows east through the Top End of the Northern Territory, between towns like Katherine and Mataranka. You can also spot it in Doomadgee and other scattered areas in the southern part of the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.
