Eucalyptus quadricostata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Square-fruited ironbark |
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| Eucalyptus quadricostata | |
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Eucalyptus
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quadricostata
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The Square-fruited ironbark (scientific name: Eucalyptus quadricostata) is a special kind of ironbark tree. It's a small to medium-sized tree that grows only in Queensland, Australia. You can easily spot it by its rough, dark bark and its unique fruit, which looks like a little square cup!
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What Makes This Tree Special?
The square-fruited ironbark is a tree that usually grows to be about 10 to 14 meters (around 33 to 46 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it gets damaged, like from a bushfire.
Its Look: Bark, Leaves, and Flowers
This tree has hard, rough bark that is dark grey to black. It covers both the trunk and the branches.
- Young Leaves: When the tree is young, or if new shoots grow from the base (called coppice regrowth), the leaves are bluish-grey. They are shaped like an egg or are almost round, about 7 to 12 centimeters (2.8 to 4.7 inches) long and 3.5 to 7 centimeters (1.4 to 2.8 inches) wide. These young leaves have a small stalk, like a stem, called a petiole.
- Adult Leaves: The older, adult leaves are a dull green color on both sides. They are shaped like a spear or are slightly curved, measuring about 8 to 18 centimeters (3.1 to 7.1 inches) long and 1.2 to 3.6 centimeters (0.5 to 1.4 inches) wide. They also have a petiole, which is about 1.5 to 3.2 centimeters (0.6 to 1.3 inches) long.
- Flower Buds: The tree's flower buds grow in groups of seven at the ends of the branches. Each group of seven buds sits on a small stalk called a peduncle, which is about 0.5 to 2 centimeters (0.2 to 0.8 inches) long. Each individual bud has its own tiny stalk, called a pedicel, about 0.5 to 0.7 centimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long.
* When the buds are ready to open, they are shaped like a club and are square, with a small ridge on each corner. They are about 0.8 to 1.2 centimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long and 0.4 to 0.6 centimeters (0.2 to 0.24 inches) wide. The top part of the bud, which pops off when the flower opens, is called an operculum. It can be shaped like a cone, rounded, or like a pyramid.
- Flowers: This tree has white flowers. They have been seen blooming in January and July.
- Fruit: After the flowers, the tree produces a woody, cup-shaped fruit. This fruit is very special because it's square when you look at it from the side! It's about 0.6 to 1.3 centimeters (0.24 to 0.5 inches) long and 0.6 to 1 centimeter (0.24 to 0.4 inches) wide. The parts that open to release the seeds are called valves, and they are usually close to the rim of the fruit.
How It Got Its Name
The square-fruited ironbark was officially given its scientific name, Eucalyptus quadricostata, in 1985. It was named by a scientist named Ian Brooker. He wrote about it in a science journal called Austrobaileya after collecting samples of the tree near a place called "Oakvale H.S."
Is It Safe? Conservation Status
Good news! The square-fruited ironbark is not in danger. The Queensland Government in Australia has classified it as "least concern" under their Nature Conservation Act 1992. This means there are plenty of these trees around, and they are not at risk of disappearing.
