Corymbia ligans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Corymbia ligans |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Corymbia
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| Species: |
ligans
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The Corymbia ligans is a special type of tree found only in north-eastern Queensland, Australia. This tree is known for its rough bark on its trunk and branches. It has long, narrow adult leaves, and its flower buds grow in groups of seven. When the flowers are gone, they leave behind fruit shaped like a long barrel.
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What Does the Corymbia ligans Look Like?
The Corymbia ligans is a tree that usually grows up to 20 meters (about 65 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber, which helps it regrow after fires. Its bark is rough and looks like a puzzle, with greyish patches on the trunk and branches.
Leaves of the Corymbia ligans
When the tree is young, its leaves are narrow and oval-shaped. They are about 80 to 100 millimeters (3 to 4 inches) long and 14 to 18 millimeters (about half an inch) wide. The underside of these young leaves is a lighter color. As the tree gets older, its leaves become shiny green on top and paler underneath. These adult leaves are narrow and shaped like a spear, measuring 77 to 150 millimeters (3 to 6 inches) long and 8 to 16 millimeters (about a quarter to half an inch) wide. They have a stem called a petiole that is 8 to 19 millimeters long.
Flowers and Fruit of the Corymbia ligans
The flower buds of the Corymbia ligans grow at the ends of the branches. They are arranged on a main stalk, called a peduncle, which is 5 to 18 millimeters long. Each part of this stalk holds seven buds, and each bud has its own small stem, called a pedicel, about 3 to 6 millimeters long.
The mature buds are oval or shaped like a narrow pear. They are 7 to 9 millimeters long and 4 to 5 millimeters wide. Each bud has a rounded cap, called an operculum, which protects the flower inside. Scientists have not yet recorded when these trees flower or what color their flowers are.
After the flowers, the tree produces a woody, barrel-shaped fruit. This fruit is a type of capsule, and its parts that open to release seeds are hidden inside the fruit.
How the Corymbia ligans Got Its Name
The Corymbia ligans was officially named in 1995. Two botanists, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson, were the first to describe it. They found specimens of this tree about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Greenvale, on the road to Charters Towers.
Where Does the Corymbia ligans Live?
This type of eucalypt tree usually grows in shallow soil. You can find it on stony or sandy hills. Most of these trees are located near Greenvale, The Lynd, Einasleigh, and in the Newcastle Range area of Queensland.
