Craven grey box facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Craven grey box |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
largeana
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The Craven grey box (scientific name: Eucalyptus largeana) is a special type of tree. It grows to be medium to tall in size. You can only find it in a small part of New South Wales, Australia. This tree has rough bark on its main trunk and bigger branches. Higher up, the bark is smooth and grey. Its adult leaves look like the tip of a spear. The flowers are white, and the fruit is shaped like a cup or a barrel.
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What Does the Craven Grey Box Look Like?
The Craven grey box is a tree that usually grows up to 40 m (130 ft) (about 130 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it gets damaged.
Its bark is rough and stringy on the trunk and sometimes on the larger branches. Higher up, the bark is smooth and can be white or grey.
Leaves and Flowers
Young plants have stems that are somewhat square. Their leaves are shaped like spears or eggs. These young leaves are about 48–120 mm (1.9–4.7 in) long and 15–55 mm (0.59–2.17 in) wide.
Adult leaves are green on both sides. They are shaped like a spear or slightly curved. These leaves are about 110–190 mm (4.3–7.5 in) long and 8–20 mm (0.31–0.79 in) wide. They grow on a stalk about 13–21 mm (0.51–0.83 in) long.
The flower buds grow in groups of seven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem or at the ends of small branches. Each group of buds sits on a small stalk. The individual buds also have tiny stalks.
When they are ready, the buds are green and oval-shaped. They are about 5 mm (0.20 in) long and 3 mm (0.12 in) wide. Each bud has a cone-shaped cap called an operculum. The flowers of the Craven grey box are white.
Fruit
After the flowers, the tree produces woody fruit. These fruits are called capsules. They can be shaped like a pear, a cup, or a barrel. They are about 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) wide. The parts that open to release seeds are below the rim of the fruit.
How It Got Its Name
The Craven grey box was first officially described in 1934. A scientist named William Blakely wrote about it. He used a tree sample collected by Wilfred Alexander de Beuzeville and Richard Large. This sample came from the "Avon State Forest, Craven."
The tree's scientific name, largeana, honors Richard Large. Blakely published his description in his book, A Key to the Eucalypts.
Where Does It Grow?
The Craven grey box grows on slopes and ridges. You can find it in wet forests near the coast of New South Wales. It grows in the area between the Hunter River and the upper parts of the Macleay and Manning Rivers.
