Elaeocarpus carolinae facts for kids

Elaeocarpus carolinae is a special type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Elaeocarpaceae family and is found only in north-east Queensland, Australia. This tree is known for its unique buttress roots at the bottom of its trunk. It has leaves with wavy edges, white flowers with five petals, and round blue or purple fruits.

What Does Elaeocarpus Carolinae Look Like?

Elaeocarpus carolinae is a tree that usually grows quite tall. It can reach a height of about 8–24 m (26–79 ft). At the very bottom of its trunk, it has special roots called buttress roots. These roots look like wide, flat supports that help the tree stand strong.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of this tree grow in bunches near the ends of the branches. They are shaped like an oval or a stretched oval. Their edges are wavy and have between 10 and 25 small teeth. Each leaf is about 55–100 mm (2.2–3.9 in) long and 18–26 mm (0.71–1.02 in) wide. They are attached to the branch by a stalk called a petiole, which is about 15–25 mm (0.59–0.98 in) long.

The flowers grow in groups of up to ten. They are found on a central stem called a rachis, which is 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) long. Each flower sits on a small, winged stalk called a pedicel, about 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long.

Petals and Fruit

Each flower has five narrow, egg-shaped parts called sepals, which are 10–11 mm (0.39–0.43 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide. The five petals are white and shaped like narrow ovals. They are 10–14 mm (0.39–0.55 in) long and about 2 mm (0.079 in) wide. The tips of the petals have thin, small lobes. Inside the flower, there are 15 or 16 stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen.

After the flowers bloom, the tree produces fruit. The fruit is a round, blue to purple drupe. A drupe is a type of fruit with a fleshy outer part and a hard pit or stone inside, like a peach or a cherry. These fruits are about 13–15 mm (0.51–0.59 in) long and 12–14 mm (0.47–0.55 in) wide.

How Was Elaeocarpus Carolinae Named?

The scientific name Elaeocarpus carolinae was first officially described in 1984. Two scientists, Bernard Hyland and Mark James Elgar Coode, gave it this name. They published their description in a scientific journal called the Kew Bulletin. They studied samples of the plant that were collected in 1979.

Where Does Elaeocarpus Carolinae Live?

This special tree is found only in north-east Queensland, Australia. It grows in a specific area called the Windsor Tableland. You can find it in rainforests at high altitudes, usually between 1,000–1,200 m (3,300–3,900 ft) above sea level. This means it prefers cool, moist environments.

Is Elaeocarpus Carolinae Protected?

The Queensland Government keeps track of how many of these trees there are. Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, Elaeocarpus carolinae is listed as being of "least concern." This means that currently, there are enough of these trees, and they are not considered to be in danger of disappearing.