Eucalyptus farinosa facts for kids

The Eucalyptus farinosa is a special kind of small tree that grows only in Queensland, Australia. It's known for its tough, dark grey bark, which looks like iron! This tree has unique leaves, pretty white flowers, and interesting ribbed fruit. It's a fascinating part of Australia's natural world.

Discovering the Farinosa Eucalyptus

This section helps you learn all about what the Eucalyptus farinosa looks like.

How Tall Does It Grow?

The Eucalyptus farinosa is an "ironbark" tree. This means its bark is super hard and dark, like iron. It usually grows to be about 8 to 9 meters tall. That's like a two or three-story building! It also has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it gets damaged, like after a bushfire.

What Do Its Leaves Look Like?

• Young Leaves: When the tree is young, or if new shoots grow from the base, its stems and leaves have a dusty, grey-green look. This is called "glaucous." These young leaves are usually round and can be quite large, about 6.5 to 11 centimeters long and wide. They have a small stem connecting them to the branch.
• Adult Leaves: The older leaves are arranged one after another along the branch. They are also a dull, dusty green on both sides. These leaves are shaped like an oval or an egg, or sometimes like a wide spear. They are typically 6 to 12 centimeters long and 2.2 to 5 centimeters wide. Each adult leaf has a stem about 1.5 to 3.5 centimeters long.

Flowers and Fruit of the Farinosa Eucalyptus

• Flower Buds: The flower buds of this eucalyptus grow in groups of seven. Each group sits on a small branching stalk, about 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters long. The individual buds have tiny stems, about 0.2 to 0.5 centimeters long. When they are ready to open, the buds are dusty grey-green and shaped like an oval or a spindle. They are about 0.7 to 0.8 centimeters long and 0.4 to 0.5 centimeters wide. Each bud has a cone-shaped cap on top.
• Blooming Time: These trees have been seen flowering in October, and their flowers are a lovely white color.
• Fruit: After the flowers, the tree produces woody fruit. These fruits are also dusty grey-green and are shaped like a cup or a barrel. They are about 0.7 to 0.9 centimeters long and 0.6 to 0.9 centimeters wide. Each fruit sits on a tiny stem, up to 0.2 to 0.4 centimeters long. The fruit has cool ridges or "ribs" running down its sides. Inside, the parts that release the seeds are close to the top edge of the fruit.

Naming the Farinosa Eucalyptus

This section explains how this unique tree got its name.

When Was It Discovered?

The Eucalyptus farinosa was officially described in 1997. A botanist named Ken Hill gave it its formal description. He studied a sample of the tree that another botanist, Ian Brooker, had collected. This sample was found near Mount Stewart, close to a town called Charters Towers in Queensland. The description was then published in a science journal called Telopea.

What Does "Farinosa" Mean?

The second part of the tree's scientific name, farinosa, comes from a Latin word. It means "floury" or "mealy." This name was chosen because the leaves, buds, and fruit of this eucalyptus often have a dusty, flour-like coating on them. It's a very fitting name!

Where Does It Grow?

This section tells you where you can find the Eucalyptus farinosa in the wild.

Its Special Home

This tree is quite rare! It is only known to grow in one specific area in Queensland, Australia. You can find it near the Campaspe River and Mount Stewart. This makes it a very special and unique part of the local plant life.

How Is It Protected?

This section explains how the Eucalyptus farinosa is looked after.

Its Conservation Status

The Queensland Government has a special law called the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Under this law, the Eucalyptus farinosa is classified as "least concern." This means that, for now, there are enough of these trees, and they are not currently at high risk of disappearing. However, it's still important to protect their natural habitat!