Cullen's ironbark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cullen's ironbark |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
cullenii
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Eucalyptus cullenii, commonly known as Cullen's ironbark, is a special type of tree found only in Queensland, Australia. It's famous for its super thick, rough bark that looks and feels a bit like iron! This tree is usually small to medium-sized. It has cool lance-shaped adult leaves, green to yellow flower buds that grow in groups of seven, white flowers, and round fruits.
What Cullen's Ironbark Looks Like
Cullen's ironbark trees usually grow up to 15 meters tall. That's about as tall as a five-story building! These trees have really thick, dark grey or black bark. It's called "ironbark" because it's deeply grooved and feels very tough, just like iron. This special bark covers both the trunk and the branches.
When the tree is young, or when new shoots grow from the base (called coppice regrowth), its leaves are long and narrow. They can be from 40 to 110 millimeters long. Adult leaves are shaped like a lance, which means they are long and pointed. They are a dull green or grayish-green on both sides. These leaves are about 70 to 150 millimeters long and grow on a small stalk called a petiole, which is about 7 to 17 millimeters long.
The tree's flower buds grow in groups of seven. Each group is on a main stalk called a peduncle, which can be 5 to 20 millimeters long. Each individual bud has its own tiny stalk, called a pedicel, about 3 to 7 millimeters long. When the buds are ready to open, they are oval or pear-shaped and can be green or yellow. They are about 4 to 6 millimeters long. The top part of the bud, which covers the flower, is called an operculum and is rounded.
Cullen's ironbark flowers usually bloom from January to May. The flowers are white. After the flowers, the tree produces woody fruits called capsules. These fruits are shaped like half a sphere and are about 2 to 4 millimeters long. They sit on a pedicel that is 2 to 7 millimeters long.
How it Got its Name
The scientific name for Cullen's ironbark is Eucalyptus cullenii. It was first officially described in 1920 by a person named Richard Hind Cambage. He found a sample of the tree near a place called Almaden, Queensland in 1913.
The second part of the name, cullenii, was chosen to honor William Portus Cullen. He was a lawyer who later became the Chief Justice of New South Wales.
Where it Grows
Cullen's ironbark trees like to grow in certain types of soil. You can find them in red podsols (a type of soil) and in shallow, stony soil. They usually grow in hilly areas or gently rolling woodlands. These trees are found in the northern and eastern parts of the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.
Is it Protected?
The Queensland Government has a law called the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Under this law, Cullen's ironbark is listed as "least concern." This means that the tree is not currently in danger of disappearing.
