Winter's bark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Winter's bark |
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| D. winteri flowers | |
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Drimys
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winteri
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Drimys winteri, also known as Winter's bark or canelo, is a special tree found in Chile and Argentina. It belongs to a plant family called Winteraceae. This tree is famous for its beautiful flowers and its interesting history.
Canelo trees are evergreen, meaning they keep their leaves all year round. They can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching up to 20 meters (about 65 feet) high. The leaves are shiny and dark green, and the flowers are white and fragrant.
Contents
What is Winter's Bark?
The name "Winter's bark" comes from Captain John Winter, who was part of Sir Francis Drake's voyage around the world in the late 1500s. When many of Drake's crew became sick with scurvy (a disease caused by not enough vitamin C), Captain Winter found this tree. Its bark was used to treat the crew, and it helped them recover. This showed how useful the tree was, especially for sailors on long journeys.
Where Does the Canelo Tree Grow?
The canelo tree is native to South America. It grows in different parts of Chile, from the central regions all the way down to the southern tip. You can also find it in parts of Argentina. It likes places with a mild, wet climate, often near the coast or in forests.
Climate and Habitat
Canelo trees thrive in areas with a lot of rain and cool temperatures. They are often found in forests that get a lot of moisture, like those in the Andes Mountains foothills or along the coast. They can grow in different types of soil, but they prefer well-drained ground.
Family and Relatives
The Drimys group of trees has about six different species. Besides Drimys winteri, some other species include Drimys andina, Drimys confertifolia, Drimys fernandeziana, and Drimys granatensis, which is found in Brazil.
Close Plant Relatives
There are other plants that are closely related to the Drimys trees. One example is a group of plants called Pseudowintera, which grows in New Zealand. These plants share some similar features with the canelo tree because they come from the same ancient plant family.
Interesting Facts About Canelo
The canelo tree is very important to the Mapuche people, who are the native people of Chile and Argentina. For them, the canelo is a sacred tree. It represents wisdom, healing, and peace. They use its branches in many of their ceremonies and rituals.
Animals and the Canelo Tree
Just like many plants, the canelo tree is part of a larger ecosystem. For example, a type of moth called Foikeulia razowskii likes to feed on the leaves of the Drimys winteri tree. This shows how different living things depend on each other in nature.
Images for kids
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A rewe and canelo tree in the Austral University of Chile.
See also
In Spanish: Canelo de Magallanes para niños
