Maningrida bloodwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maningrida bloodwood |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Corymbia
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| Species: |
papillosa
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| Synonyms | |
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The Maningrida bloodwood (scientific name: Corymbia papillosa) is a special kind of small tree. It doesn't grow very tall and is found only in northern Australia. This tree has rough bark that looks like a checkerboard on its trunk and branches. Its leaves are thin and shaped like ovals. When it blooms, it has white flowers that grow in groups of seven, and its fruit looks like a small, woody pot.
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What Does Maningrida Bloodwood Look Like?
The Maningrida bloodwood is a short tree, usually growing up to 8 m (26 ft) 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 tree's trunk and branches are covered in thick, rough bark. It looks like many small, flat pieces joined together, almost like a puzzle.
Young Maningrida bloodwood plants have heart-shaped or oblong leaves. These leaves are about 30–100 mm (1.2–3.9 in) long and 15–50 mm (0.59–1.97 in) wide. They grow directly on the stem, without a stalk, and appear in opposite pairs.
The leaves on the main part of the tree are thin and dull light green on both sides. They are oval-shaped, about 40–122 mm (1.6–4.8 in) long and 20–55 mm (0.79–2.17 in) wide. These leaves also grow in opposite pairs and might have a short stalk up to 8 mm (0.31 in) long. If you look closely, you'll see tiny, hair-like bumps covering the leaves.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the Maningrida bloodwood grow in groups of seven. These groups are found at the ends of the branches or sometimes where a leaf joins the stem. Each group of flowers sits on a stalk up to 30 mm (1.2 in) long. The individual flower buds are pear-shaped or oval, about 6 mm (0.24 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide. They have a pointy or rounded cap on top.
This tree has been seen flowering in November, and its flowers are white. After the flowers, the tree produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like an urn or a barrel and are about 12–17 mm (0.47–0.67 in) long and 10–16 mm (0.39–0.63 in) wide.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Maningrida bloodwood was officially named Corymbia papillosa in 1995. It was named by two botanists, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson.
The second part of its scientific name, papillosa, comes from Latin words. "Papilla" means "a nipple," and "-osus" means "full of." This name refers to the tiny, nipple-like hairs found on the tree's leaves.
Where Does Maningrida Bloodwood Grow?
The Maningrida bloodwood grows in flat areas. It prefers sandy soils that often have a type of gravel called lateritic gravels. You can find this tree in different parts of the Top End region of the Northern Territory in Australia. It also appears in a few isolated spots in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
