Shiny-leaved bloodwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shiny-leaved bloodwood |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Corymbia
|
| Species: |
lamprophylla
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Eucalyptus lamprophylla Brooker & A.R.Bean |
|
The Shiny-leaved Bloodwood (scientific name: Corymbia lamprophylla) is a special tree. It is also known as the shiny-leaved bloodwood because of its glossy leaves. This tree is found only in central Queensland, Australia. It has rough bark, long leaves, and pretty creamy white flowers.
Contents
What the Shiny-leaved Bloodwood Looks Like
The Shiny-leaved Bloodwood is a medium-sized tree. It usually grows up to 15 meters (about 50 feet) tall. Its trunk and bigger branches have rough, brownish bark. This bark looks like a puzzle, with many small, blocky pieces. This is called tessellated bark. Thinner branches have smooth, grey or cream-colored bark.
Leaves of the Tree
Young Shiny-leaved Bloodwood trees have shiny green leaves. These leaves are paler on their underside. They are shaped like a spear, about 6.5 to 13.5 centimeters (2.5 to 5.3 inches) long. They are also about 1 to 2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) wide. Each leaf has a short stem called a petiole.
Adult leaves are even shinier on top. They are also spear-shaped. These leaves are longer, from 7 to 18 centimeters (2.8 to 7.1 inches) long. They are 1 to 3 centimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) wide. Their petioles are a bit longer, too.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the Shiny-leaved Bloodwood grow in groups. They appear at the ends of the branches. Each group has seven flower buds. These buds are pear-shaped or oval. They are about 6 to 9 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long. The top part of the bud, called the operculum, is rounded.
The tree blooms from January to April. Its flowers are a lovely creamy white color. After the flowers, the tree produces fruit. The fruit is a woody, urn-shaped capsule. It is about 1.1 to 1.8 centimeters (0.4 to 0.7 inches) long. The seeds are inside this capsule.
How the Tree Got Its Name
The Shiny-leaved Bloodwood was first described in 1987. Two scientists, Ian Brooker and Anthony Bean, gave it the name Eucalyptus lamprophylla. They found the tree in the White Mountains in Queensland.
Later, in 1995, two other botanists, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson, changed its name. They moved it to a different group of trees called Corymbia. So, its full scientific name became Corymbia lamprophylla. The name lamprophylla means "shiny-leaved" in Greek. This perfectly describes its glossy leaves!
Where the Tree Grows
You can find the Shiny-leaved Bloodwood in central eastern Queensland. It grows in shallow, sandy soil. It likes to live on high areas made of sandstone or granite. Its main home is from near Paluma to the White Mountains.
Conservation Status
Good news! The Shiny-leaved Bloodwood is not in danger. The Queensland Government says it is of "least concern." This means there are plenty of these trees around.
