Rough-leaved yellowjacket facts for kids

The rough-leaved yellowjacket (scientific name: Corymbia scabrida) is a type of small tree. It grows only in central Queensland, Australia. This tree has rough, puzzle-piece-like bark on its trunk and branches. Its leaves are a mix of young and slightly older ones. It grows white flowers in groups of seven, and its fruit looks like small barrels or urns.

What the Rough-leaved Yellowjacket Looks Like

The rough-leaved yellowjacket tree 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 it gets damaged, like from a bushfire.

The bark on its trunk and branches is pale brown to yellow-brown or orange. It has a unique, rough, puzzle-piece pattern.

Leaves and How They Grow

Young plants and new shoots that grow from the base of the tree (called coppice regrowth) have leaves that are shaped like an egg. These leaves are about 50–185 mm (2.0–7.3 in) long and 40–55 mm (1.6–2.2 in) wide. They feel hairy, and their stalks (called petioles) are attached to the underside of the leaf.

The main leaves on the tree's crown are a mix of young and slightly older ones. They are a dull grayish-green on both sides. These leaves are about 65–125 mm (2.6–4.9 in) long and 20–35 mm (0.79–1.38 in) wide. They feel rough, and their petioles are about 8–17 mm (0.31–0.67 in) long, also attached to the underside of the leaf.

Flowers and Fruit

The tree's flower buds grow at the ends of its branches. They are arranged on a branched stalk called a peduncle, which is about 9–26 mm (0.35–1.02 in) long. Each branch of this stalk has seven buds. These buds either sit directly on the stalk (meaning they are sessile) or have very short stalks (called pedicels) up to 3 mm (0.12 in) long.

When the buds are ready to open, they are oval-shaped, about 7 mm (0.28 in) long and 6 mm (0.24 in) wide. They have a rounded or flattened cap on top, called an operculum, which might have a small point or knob in the middle. The rough-leaved yellowjacket has been seen flowering in October, and its flowers are white.

After the flowers, the tree produces woody fruit. These fruits are shaped like barrels, urns, or short spheres. They are about 8–13 mm (0.31–0.51 in) long and 8–11 mm (0.31–0.43 in) wide.

How it Got its Name

This tree was first officially described in 1991 by two scientists, Ian Brooker and Anthony Bean. They first named it Eucalyptus scabrida. Later, in 1995, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson changed its name to Corymbia scabrida.

The second part of its scientific name, scabrida, comes from a Latin word. It means "somewhat scabrous", which describes something that feels rough or scratchy. This fits the tree's rough bark and leaves!

Where the Rough-leaved Yellowjacket Lives

The rough-leaved yellowjacket grows on low sandstone ridges and hills. It likes shallow soils that are sandy, loamy (a mix of sand, silt, and clay), or gravelly.

You can find this tree in woodland areas. It often grows alongside other trees like the Silver-leaved ironbark (Eucalyptus melanophloia), Baradine gum (E. chloroclada), Clarkson's bloodwood (Corymbia clarksoniana), C. polycarpa, and Rusty gum (Angophora leiocarpa). Its home range stretches from west of Springsure to near Tambo in Queensland.

Protecting This Tree

The Queensland Government has a list of plants and animals that need protection. The rough-leaved yellowjacket is currently listed as "near threatened" under their Nature Conservation Act 1992. This means it's not in immediate danger, but its population is getting smaller, and it could become threatened if we don't protect its habitat.