Minyon quandong facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Minyon quandong |
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| Minyon Quandong – juvenile | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Elaeocarpus
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| Species: |
sedentarius
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| Synonyms | |
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The Minyon quandong (scientific name: Elaeocarpus sedentarius) is a special type of tree found in Australia. It's a medium-sized tree that grows in rainforests. This tree is considered endangered, which means there are very few of them left in the wild.
Scientists David J. Maynard and Darren M. Crayn officially named and described this tree in 2008. Before that, it was known by other informal names, like Elaeocarpus sp. Rocky Creek.
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Where the Minyon Quandong Lives
These trees naturally grow in a small area in northern New South Wales, Australia. This area is south of a large, old volcano called the Mount Warning caldera. A caldera is a big bowl-shaped hollow that forms after a volcano erupts and collapses.
One single wild Minyon quandong tree was also found about 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of where most of the others grow. This tree lives in areas where two types of forests meet: Brush Box forests and warm temperate rainforests.
Why the Minyon Quandong is Endangered
The Minyon quandong is naturally rare, meaning it has always had small populations. Because there are so few of them, they are listed as an endangered species. This means they are at high risk of disappearing forever.
Both the New South Wales government and the Australian national government protect these trees. They are listed as endangered under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act and the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). These laws help protect the trees and their habitats.
What the Minyon Quandong Looks Like
Let's explore the features of this unique tree.
Leaves
The leaves of the Minyon quandong are usually round or oval-shaped. They are about 7 to 15 centimeters (3 to 6 inches) long and 4 to 8 centimeters (1.5 to 3 inches) wide. The edges of some leaves are slightly wavy or toothed. Other leaves have smooth edges.
The underside of the leaves is a pale, whitish-blue color. It has tiny hairs, especially along the leaf veins. The stem that connects the leaf to the branch is short, about 3 to 6 millimeters long. When old leaves are about to fall off, they turn orange or dull red.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the Minyon quandong are a greenish-cream color. They grow in clusters called racemes, which are about 2 to 5 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) long.
In autumn, the tree produces its fruit. This fruit is a round, blue drupe, which is a type of fruit with a hard pit inside, like a peach. The fruit is about 20 to 35 millimeters (0.8 to 1.4 inches) across. The blue skin covers a very fibrous "flesh." The hard "stone" in the middle is not smooth but has a sculpted look.
Like many other Australian Elaeocarpus trees, it is hard and slow for new Minyon quandong trees to grow from seeds.
