Mountain quandong facts for kids

The Mountain quandong (Elaeocarpus elliffii) is a type of flowering tree. It belongs to the Elaeocarpaceae family. This tree is special because it only grows in one place: north-east Queensland, Australia. This means it is endemic there. It's a tall tree, sometimes with big roots that look like supports at its base. Its leaves are shaped like narrow eggs and often have tiny pockets called domatia. The flowers are white with five petals that have unique tips. The fruit is round.

What the Mountain Quandong Looks Like

The Mountain quandong is a tree that usually grows to be 20–40 m (66–131 ft) tall. That's like a 7 to 13-story building! It often has large, flat roots called buttress roots at the bottom of its trunk. These roots help to support the tree, especially in wet, shallow soils.

Its leaves are shaped like narrow eggs, with the thinner part closer to the stem. They are about 60–90 mm (2.4–3.5 in) long and 15–25 mm (0.59–0.98 in) wide. Each leaf grows on a thin stalk called a petiole, which is about 10–17 mm (0.39–0.67 in) long. The edges of the leaves are often wavy and have small teeth. Many leaves also have up to five large domatia. These are tiny, often hairy pockets on the underside of the leaf, which can sometimes be homes for tiny mites.

The flowers grow in groups of up to twelve on a central stem called a rachis, which can be up to 40 mm (1.6 in) long. Each individual flower has its own small stalk, called a pedicel, about 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long.

Each flower has five egg-shaped sepals. These are like small, leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud before it opens. They are about 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long. The five petals are white and are shaped like ovals or rectangles. They are about 4.5–5 mm (0.18–0.20 in) long and have six to nine small, uneven teeth at their tips. Inside the flower, there are about thirty to thirty-five stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen.

Mountain quandong trees usually flower from October to September. The fruit is a round or oval-shaped drupe. A drupe is a fleshy fruit with a hard pit inside, like a peach or a cherry. The fruit is about 12–14 mm (0.47–0.55 in) long and 10–11 mm (0.39–0.43 in) wide. You can usually see the fruit on the tree from July to October.

How it Was Named

The Mountain quandong was officially named and described in 1984. Two scientists, Bernard Hyland and Mark James Elgar Coode, wrote about it in a scientific journal called Kew Bulletin. They used plant samples that were collected in 1970.

The second part of its scientific name, elliffii, was chosen to honor Maurice Elliff (1921–1981). He worked at the herbarium (a collection of preserved plants) at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew from 1977 to 1981.

Where the Mountain Quandong Lives

The Mountain quandong is found only in north-east Queensland, Australia. This means it is endemic to that area. It grows in rainforests and is quite widespread, from near Cooktown down to Tully. You can find it growing at different heights, from 200–1,200 m (660–3,940 ft) above sea level.

Conservation Status

The Queensland Government has a list of plants and animals and how safe they are. The Mountain quandong is listed as being of "least concern" under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. This means that, for now, there are plenty of these trees, and they are not considered to be in danger of disappearing.

See also

In Spanish: Elaeocarpus holopetalus para niños