Pokolbin box facts for kids

The Pokolbin box (scientific name: Eucalyptus hypostomatica) is a special type of tree that grows only in New South Wales, Australia. It's a medium to tall tree with rough, flaky bark. You can spot it by its long, spear-shaped leaves, white flowers, and fruit that looks like a small barrel or cone.

What Does the Pokolbin Box Look Like?

The Pokolbin box is a tree that usually grows to be about 30–40 m (98–131 ft) 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 dark grey and feels rough, flaky, or stringy on the main trunk and bigger branches. Higher up, the bark is smooth and grey.

• Young leaves: When the tree is young, its leaves are a dull green. They are paler on the underside and shaped like an egg. These leaves are about 45–70 mm (1.8–2.8 in) long and 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) wide.
• Adult leaves: Older leaves are shiny green on top and paler underneath. They are shaped like a spear, measuring 80–180 mm (3.1–7.1 in) long and 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) wide. Each leaf has a stalk called a petiole, which is about 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long.

The flowers grow in groups of seven at the ends of the branches. Each group is on a small stalk called a peduncle, which is 3–8 mm (0.12–0.31 in) long. The individual flower buds are on even smaller stalks called pedicels, about 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) long.

When the buds are ready, they are oval-shaped and green. They are about 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide. Each bud has a cone-shaped cap called an operculum.

The Pokolbin box blooms from October to November, showing off its white flowers. After flowering, it produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like a barrel or a cone. They are about 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) wide. The parts that release the seeds are tucked inside the fruit, below its rim.

How Did it Get Its Name?

The Pokolbin box was first officially described in 1990. Two botanists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill, wrote about it in a science journal called Telopea.

Its scientific name, hypostomatica, comes from ancient Greek words. The word hypo means "under," and stoma refers to tiny pores on leaves. This name was chosen because most of the tree's leaf pores (called stomata) are found on the underside of its leaves.

Where Does it Grow?

The Pokolbin box lives in forests in New South Wales, Australia. You can find small groups of these trees in areas like the Pokolbin district, Kangaroo Valley, and near Widden Brook.