Red-throated bloodwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-throated bloodwood |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Corymbia
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| Species: |
rhodops
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| Synonyms | |
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Eucalyptus rhodops D.J.Carr & S.G.M.Carr |
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The Red-throated bloodwood (scientific name: Corymbia rhodops) is a special kind of tree found only in Queensland, Australia. It gets its name from its unique creamy white flowers that have a bright red center, making it look like the flower has a "red throat." This tree has rough bark and grows quite tall. It is considered a vulnerable species, meaning it needs protection to survive.
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What Does the Red-throated Bloodwood Look Like?
The Red-throated bloodwood is a tree that usually grows up to 15 metres (49 ft) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if the top part is damaged, for example, by a bushfire.
Bark and Leaves
The bark on the trunk and larger branches is reddish-brown to grey-brown. It's called tessellated bark because it looks like a pattern of small, square tiles, similar to a checkerboard. Thinner branches have smooth bark.
Young plants and new shoots growing from the base (called coppice regrowth) have shiny green leaves. These leaves are paler underneath and are shaped like an oval or a spear. They are about 55–120 mm (2.2–4.7 in) long and 15–30 mm (0.59–1.18 in) wide.
Adult leaves are arranged one after another along the stem. They are also shiny green on top and paler underneath. These leaves are spear-shaped, about 80–152 mm (3.1–6.0 in) long and 8–25 mm (0.31–0.98 in) wide. Each leaf narrows down to a stalk called a petiole, which is about 8–25 mm (0.31–0.98 in) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers grow at the ends of the branches. They are held on a main stalk called a peduncle, which is 4–25 mm (0.16–0.98 in) long. Each peduncle branch holds seven flower buds. These buds are on smaller stalks called pedicels, which are 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long.
Mature flower buds are shaped like a pear or an oval. They are 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in) long and 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) wide. The top part of the bud, which covers the flower before it opens, is called an operculum. It's shaped like a cone or is rounded, often with a small point in the middle.
The Red-throated bloodwood flowers from December to February. Its flowers are creamy white and have a bright red center. The red parts are the stamens, which are the parts of the flower that produce pollen.
After flowering, the tree produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like an urn or a barrel and are called capsules. They are 17–28 mm (0.67–1.10 in) long and 12–20 mm (0.47–0.79 in) wide. The parts that open to release the seeds (called valves) are hidden inside the fruit.
How the Red-throated Bloodwood Got Its Name
Scientists first officially described the Red-throated bloodwood in 1987. It was named Eucalyptus rhodops by two scientists, Denis John Carr and Stella Grace Maisie Carr. They wrote about it in their book Eucalyptus II - The rubber cuticle, and other studies of the Corymbosae. They found the first samples of this tree, called type specimens, near a place called Watsonville in 1975.
Later, in 1995, two other scientists, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson, decided to change its name to Corymbia rhodops. They published this change in a science journal called Telopea. This is how the tree got its current scientific name.
Where Does the Red-throated Bloodwood Live?
This special bloodwood tree is only found in a few small areas in Queensland, Australia. It grows on the steep slopes on the western side of the Atherton Tableland and on the Windsor Tablelands. These are elevated, flat areas of land.
Why Is the Red-throated Bloodwood Vulnerable?
The Red-throated bloodwood is considered a vulnerable species. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered if we don't protect it. In 2008, the Australian government listed it as vulnerable under a law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Queensland government also lists it as vulnerable under their Nature Conservation Act 1992.
The main reason this tree is at risk is because its natural home is being destroyed. This often happens due to mining activities in the areas where it grows. Because it only lives in a few small places, losing even a little bit of its habitat can have a big impact on its survival.
