Corymbia plena facts for kids

Corymbia plena is a type of tree that grows only in central Queensland, Australia. It has thick, rough bark on its trunk and branches. Its adult leaves are shaped like a spear or are slightly curved. This tree produces creamy white flowers and fruit shaped like an urn or a barrel.

What Does It Look Like?

Corymbia plena is a tree that usually grows up to 15 m (49 ft) (about 50 feet) 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.

The bark on its trunk and branches is thick, rough, and looks like many small blocks fitted together.

Leaves

Young plants and new shoots have leaves that are oval or spear-shaped. These leaves are about 65–105 mm (2.6–4.1 in) long and 23–30 mm (0.91–1.18 in) wide. They have a stalk (called a petiole) and are lighter in color on their underside.

Adult leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the branches. They are also lighter underneath. These leaves are spear-shaped or slightly curved. They measure 76–155 mm (3.0–6.1 in) long and 10–25 mm (0.39–0.98 in) wide. Their stalks are about 7–23 mm (0.28–0.91 in) long.

Flowers and Fruit

The flower buds grow in groups of seven at the ends of the branches. Each group is on a branched stalk called a peduncle, which is 7–23 mm (0.28–0.91 in) long. Each of the seven buds has its own small stalk, up to 14 mm (0.55 in) long.

Mature buds are oval, pear-shaped, or almost round. They are 11–17 mm (0.43–0.67 in) long and 7–12 mm (0.28–0.47 in) wide. Each bud has a cap, called an operculum, which can be cone-shaped or rounded. Sometimes, this cap has a small knob in the middle.

This tree flowers from April to May. Its flowers are a lovely creamy white color. After flowering, the tree produces woody fruit. These fruits are shaped like an urn or a barrel. They are a type of capsule, which means they are dry fruits that open to release seeds. The parts that hold the seeds are hidden inside the fruit.

How It Got Its Name

Corymbia plena was first officially described in 1995. This was done by two botanists, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson.

The second part of its scientific name, plena, comes from the Latin word plenus. This word means "full" or "stout." It was chosen because the tree's fruit is quite large compared to some other similar trees.

Where It Grows

This type of bloodwood tree mostly grows in deep sandy soil or soil that contains laterite (a reddish soil rich in iron and aluminum). You can find it spread out across central Queensland, Australia. It is common in areas between towns like Pentland, Hughenden, Barcaldine, and Tambo.

Conservation Status

The Queensland Government lists Corymbia plena as a species of "least concern." This means that, for now, there are plenty of these trees. They are not considered to be at risk of disappearing in the near future. This status is under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.