Cryptocarya nova-anglica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain laurel |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cryptocarya
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| Species: |
nova-anglica
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The Mountain Laurel (scientific name: Cryptocarya nova-anglica) is a special tree that grows in the rainforests of eastern Australia. You can find it mostly in cool, wet rainforests, usually high up in the mountains, over 1,100 metres (about 3,600 feet) above sea level. This tree lives from the upper Hastings River area all the way north to the border of Queensland.
The Mountain Laurel is an "understorey" tree. This means it grows beneath taller trees, like the Antarctic beech, possumwood, golden sassafras, and black olive berry. The scientific name "nova-anglica" means "New England," which refers to New England National Park where this tree is often seen.
What Does Mountain Laurel Look Like?
The Mountain Laurel is a small to medium-sized tree. It can grow up to 20 metres (about 65 feet) tall. Its trunk can be as wide as 45 centimetres (about 18 inches). The bottom of the tree does not have large, wide roots called "buttresses."
The trunk is brown and has some wrinkles and cracks. Its smaller branches are quite thick and are orange or yellow in colour. They feel smooth. The tiny buds on the branches are covered in soft, fuzzy hairs.
Leaves
The leaves of the Mountain Laurel are simple, meaning each leaf is just one piece. They grow "alternately" on the stem, which means they are not directly opposite each other. The leaves are shaped like an oval or a spear, usually 3 to 7 centimetres (1.2 to 2.8 inches) long and 1.6 to 3.5 centimetres (0.6 to 1.4 inches) wide. They have a long, pointed tip.
The top side of the leaf is shiny and dark green, while the underside is a dull grey. The main vein, called the "midrib," is cream-coloured. It looks sunken on the top of the leaf but sticks out on the bottom. The other leaf veins are straight, not curved, coming off the midrib. The leaf stalks are about 5 millimetres (0.2 inches) long.
Flowers and Fruit
Small, creamy green flowers appear on the Mountain Laurel from December to January. These tiny flower clusters are only about 1 centimetre (0.4 inches) long. They grow from the "axils" of the leaves, which is the spot where a leaf joins the stem.
The fruit of the Mountain Laurel takes a long time to grow, about fifteen months! It ripens from March to April. The fruit is a black "drupe," which is a type of fleshy fruit with a hard seed inside, like a cherry or a peach. It has a pointed tip and is about 1 centimetre (0.4 inches) wide. The fruit can be round or shaped like a pear.
Like many fruits from the Cryptocarya group, the seed inside can sometimes have ridges. If you want to plant the seed, you should remove the soft fruit flesh first.
Images for kids
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A young Mountain Laurel tree.
