Corymbia papuana facts for kids
The ghost gum (scientific name: Corymbia papuana) is a tall, beautiful tree. It gets its name because its bark is smooth and whitish, making it look like a ghost! You can find these trees growing in New Guinea, some Torres Strait Islands, and the northern part of Cape York Peninsula in Australia.
Quick facts for kids Corymbia papuana |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Corymbia
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papuana
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Contents
What Does the Ghost Gum Look Like?
The ghost gum is a very tall tree. It can grow up to 40 meters high. That's like a 13-story building! It has smooth bark that is white, creamy white, or light grey.
Leaves and Flowers
Young ghost gum plants have hairy leaves. These leaves are shaped like an egg or a spear. They can be from 50 to 190 millimeters long.
Older trees have different leaves. These adult leaves are spear-shaped and dull green. They are about 90 to 210 millimeters long.
The tree's flower buds grow in groups of three or seven. They are shaped like a pear. When they open, the flowers are creamy white and smell nice. You can often see them bloom in October and November.
Fruit
After flowering, the tree produces fruit. The fruit is woody and shaped like a barrel or an urn. It is about 6 to 12 millimeters long.
How the Ghost Gum Got Its Name
This tree was first officially described in 1875. A scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller gave it the name Eucalyptus papuana. He wrote about it in his book Descriptive notes on Papuan plants. He found the tree in New Guinea.
Later, in 1995, two other scientists, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson, changed its name. They renamed it Corymbia papuana.
Where Does the Ghost Gum Live?
The ghost gum tree grows in woodlands with lots of grass. It usually likes flat areas. But sometimes, you can find it on stony hillsides too.
It is found in the southern parts of New Guinea. You can also see it on some Torres Strait Islands. And it grows in the northern parts of the Cape York Peninsula in Australia.
