Brown's box facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brown's box |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
brownii
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| Synonyms | |
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Eucalyptus bicolor var parviflora F.Muell. ex Benth. |
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Eucalyptus brownii, also known as the Brown's box or Reid River box, is a special type of Eucalyptus tree. It only grows in Queensland, Australia. This tree is usually small to medium-sized. It has strong, rough bark and long, thin adult leaves. Its flowers are white and grow in small groups. The fruit usually looks like a cup.
What Does Brown's Box Look Like?
The Brown's box tree can grow up to 18 meters (about 59 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it gets damaged.
Its bark is rough and tough. It's often pale grey or grey-brown and stays on the trunk and bigger branches.
Young plants and new shoots have different leaves. These leaves are broadly lance-shaped or egg-shaped. They are about 40 to 90 millimeters (1.6 to 3.5 inches) long. They also have a small stalk called a petiole.
Adult leaves are shiny green on both sides. They are lance-shaped and measure about 60 to 170 millimeters (2.4 to 6.7 inches) long. Their petiole is about 15 to 30 millimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) long.
The flower buds grow in groups of eleven, thirteen, or fifteen. They are found where the leaf meets the stem, which is called an axil. These groups of buds are on a stalk called a peduncle, which is 3 to 8 millimeters (0.1 to 0.3 inches) long. Each individual flower bud has its own tiny stalk, a pedicel, about 1 to 4 millimeters (0.04 to 0.16 inches) long.
Mature buds are oval-shaped. They are 2 to 4 millimeters (0.08 to 0.16 inches) long and 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) wide. They have a rounded cap called an operculum.
Brown's box trees usually flower from August to October. Their flowers are a creamy-white color. The fruit is a woody, cup-shaped or sometimes bell-shaped capsule. It is 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) long and wide. It sits on a pedicel that is 1 to 3 millimeters (0.04 to 0.12 inches) long.
How Did Brown's Box Get Its Name?
The Eucalyptus brownii was first officially described by two botanists. Their names were Joseph Maiden and Richard Hind Cambage. They studied samples collected by Nicholas Daley in 1912. These samples were found along the Reid River near Townsville.
The specific name brownii was chosen to honor Robert Brown. He was a famous botanist.
Where Does Brown's Box Grow?
Brown's box trees grow on flat lands and gentle hills in central eastern Queensland. You can find them between the Connors River south of Sarina, and places like Barcaldine, Hughenden, Charters Towers, and Townsville.
These trees often grow in open woodlands. They might be found with other trees like Eucalyptus persistens. There can also be shrubs nearby, such as Eremophila mitchellii or Psydrax oleifolia. Sometimes they grow with Flindersia maculosa and Lysiphyllum species. This usually happens on clay soils. They can also be found with Eucalyptus cambageana and E. crebra in woodlands on low rocky hills.
