Crocodile tree facts for kids

The Crocodile tree (scientific name: Terminalia arostrata) is a special tree found in northern Australia. It's also known as nutwood. This tree belongs to the Combretaceae family.

Discovering the Crocodile Tree

What is the Crocodile Tree?

The Crocodile tree gets its common name from its unique look. It's a medium-sized tree that can grow quite tall. It's known for its interesting features, like its edible seeds.

How Tall Does It Grow?

These trees usually grow to be about 4.5 to 12 meters (15 to 39 feet) tall. They are either deciduous (meaning they lose their leaves in certain seasons) or semi-deciduous.

Flowers and Fruit

The Crocodile tree blooms between July and November. During this time, it produces pretty white, orange, and red flowers. It also has a rounded top (crown) and branches that hang down. The tree produces fruit that looks like a beak and stays on the tree all year.

Leaves of the Tree

The leaves of the Crocodile tree are about 3 to 13 centimeters (1 to 5 inches) long. They are also quite wide, measuring 10 to 45 centimeters (4 to 18 inches) across.

Where Does the Crocodile Tree Live?

Native Home in Australia

This tree is native to the northern parts of Australia. It likes to grow in specific types of environments.

Favorite Growing Spots

You can find the Crocodile tree in flat areas or slightly bumpy places. It often grows in swampy areas or on plains made of basalt rock. It prefers to grow in rich, heavy soils.

Regions Where It Grows

The Crocodile tree is found in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It also grows in the Northern Territory and Queensland.

History of the Crocodile Tree

When Was It First Described?

The Crocodile tree was first officially described in 1917. This means it was given its scientific name and details were written down.

Who Described It?

Two botanists, Alfred James Ewart and O.B.Davies, were the first to describe this species. They wrote about it in a book called The Flora of the Northern Territory.