Eungella aspen facts for kids

The Acronychia eungellensis, commonly known as the Eungella aspen, is a special type of small rainforest tree. It grows only in a small area of central-eastern Queensland, Australia. This tree has simple, oval-shaped leaves on round stems. Its flowers grow in small groups where the leaves join the stem. The fruit is fleshy and shaped like an egg.

What the Eungella Aspen Looks Like

The Eungella aspen is a tree that can grow up to 20 meters (about 65 feet) tall. Its main stem is mostly round. The leaves are simple and smooth, meaning they don't have hairs. This smooth surface is called glabrous. The leaves are oval-shaped, about 5.5 to 9 centimeters (2 to 3.5 inches) long. They are also about 2 to 4.5 centimeters (0.8 to 1.8 inches) wide. Each leaf grows on a stalk called a petiole, which is about 1 to 2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long.

The flowers grow in small to medium-sized groups, about 2 to 9 centimeters (0.8 to 3.5 inches) long. Each flower sits on a tiny stalk called a pedicel, which is about 4 to 5.5 millimeters long. Each flower has four small leaf-like parts called sepals, which are about 1.5 to 2 millimeters wide. It also has four petals (the colorful parts of a flower) that are about 6.5 to 7.5 millimeters long. Inside the flower, there are eight stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. These stamens are different lengths.

The Eungella aspen flowers in October. Its fruit is a fleshy type called a drupe. A drupe is a fruit with a hard pit or stone inside, like a peach or an olive. The Eungella aspen's fruit is about 12 millimeters (0.5 inches) long and can be egg-shaped or oval.

How Scientists Named This Tree

Scientists give every living thing a unique name. This helps them study and understand different species. The Eungella aspen, Acronychia eungellensis, was first officially described in 1982. Two scientists, Thomas Gordon Hartley and Bernard Hyland, gave it its formal name. They wrote about it in a science journal called Austrobaileya. They studied samples of the tree that were collected in the Eungella National Park.

Where the Eungella Aspen Lives

This tree grows in rainforests. It is found only in a very specific area, which means it is endemic to that place. You can find the Eungella aspen mainly in the Eungella National Park in central-eastern Queensland. It also grows on some private land nearby. These trees usually grow at an altitude of about 900 meters (about 2,950 feet) above sea level.

Protecting the Eungella Aspen

The Eungella aspen is currently classified as "near threatened." This means that while it's not in immediate danger of disappearing, its numbers are low. If things don't change, it could become threatened in the future. The Queensland Government protects this tree under its Nature Conservation Act 1992. This law helps to make sure that special plants and animals like the Eungella aspen are looked after and kept safe.