Corymbia pauciseta facts for kids

Corymbia pauciseta is a type of small tree. It is found only in a special part of north-eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Australia. This tree has rough, blocky bark on its trunk. Higher up, its bark is smooth and white. Its leaves are a mix of young and adult types. It grows creamy white flowers in groups of seven. The fruit looks like a small barrel or cylinder.

What Does This Tree Look Like?

Corymbia pauciseta is usually a small tree. It grows up to about 6 metres (20 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow after a fire.

The bark on the trunk is rough and grey. It looks like a pattern of small blocks, which is called "tessellated." Higher up, the bark is smooth and creamy white or light grey.

Leaves

The tree's leaves are a dull green on both sides. They can be shaped like a heart, an egg, or a spear. They are usually between 90 and 195 millimetres (3.5 to 7.7 inches) long. They are also 27 to 90 millimetres (1.1 to 3.5 inches) wide. Some leaves attach directly to the stem (sessile). Others have a very short stalk, called a petiole, up to 5 millimetres long. This tree often loses its leaves during the dry season.

Flowers and Fruit

The flower buds grow in groups of seven. They appear where the leaves join the stem (called axils). Each group of buds is on a small stalk called a peduncle. This stalk is 2 to 15 millimetres long. Each of the seven buds has its own tiny stalk, called a pedicel, which is 9 to 32 millimetres long.

When the buds are ready, they are pear-shaped. They are about 6 to 7 millimetres long and 4 to 5 millimetres wide. Each bud has a rounded cap on top, called an operculum. The tree usually flowers in October and November. Its flowers are creamy white.

After flowering, the tree produces fruit. The fruit is a thin-walled capsule. It is 8 to 15 millimetres long and 7 to 12 millimetres wide. The parts that open to release seeds (called valves) are tucked inside the fruit.

How Did It Get Its Name?

The scientific name Corymbia pauciseta was first officially given in 1995. It was named by two botanists, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson.

The second part of the name, pauciseta, comes from two Latin words:

• paucus means "few"
• seta means "bristle"

This name refers to the leaves and shoots of this tree. They have fewer bristles compared to a similar tree called Corymbia confertiflora.

Where Does It Grow?

This type of eucalypt tree mostly grows in low woodlands. It prefers flat areas. You can find it in the north-eastern part of the Northern Territory, Australia. It grows between the towns of Maningrida and Gove. It is most common in Arnhem Land. While it's found in many places there, it doesn't grow everywhere.