Rose ash facts for kids

The Flindersia laevicarpa, often called rose ash, scented maple, or dirran maple, is a medium to large tree. It belongs to the Rutaceae family, which also includes citrus fruits! This tree naturally grows in Papua New Guinea, West Papua, and Queensland, Australia. It has special leaves made up of four to eight smaller, egg-shaped leaflets. Its flowers grow in bunches and can be cream, yellowish, red, or purple. When the smooth, woody fruit is ready, it splits into five parts, letting out seeds that have wings to help them spread.

What Does the Rose Ash Tree Look Like?

The Rose ash tree can grow very tall, reaching heights of 21–45 m (69–148 ft) (about 69 to 148 feet). Its leaves are "pinnate," which means they have several smaller leaflets arranged along a central stem, like a feather. Each leaf is about 60–300 mm (2.4–11.8 in) (2.4 to 11.8 inches) long.

Leaves and Flowers

Each leaf has four to eight leaflets. These small leaves are shaped like an egg or an oval and measure 40–150 mm (1.6–5.9 in) (1.6 to 5.9 inches) long and 15–65 mm (0.59–2.56 in) (0.6 to 2.6 inches) wide. They connect to the main leaf stem with tiny stalks called petiolules, which are only 2–8 mm (0.079–0.315 in) (0.08 to 0.3 inches) long.

The flowers of the Rose ash tree grow in clusters called "panicles," which can be 120–300 mm (4.7–11.8 in) (4.7 to 11.8 inches) long. Each flower has tiny green parts called sepals, about 1 mm (0.039 in) (0.04 inches) long. The colorful petals are cream, yellowish, red, or purple and are about 2–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) (0.08 to 0.1 inches) long.

Fruit and Seeds

Rose ash trees usually bloom from January to July. After flowering, they produce a smooth, woody fruit. This fruit is a "capsule," which means it's a dry fruit that opens when it's ripe. The capsule is 29–52 mm (1.1–2.0 in) (1.1 to 2.0 inches) long and splits into five sections. Inside, it holds seeds that are also 29–52 mm (1.1–2.0 in) long and have wings, allowing them to be carried by the wind.

How Did the Rose Ash Get Its Name?

The scientific name for the Rose ash, Flindersia laevicarpa, was first officially described in 1920. Two scientists, Cyril Tenison White and William D. Francis, gave it this name in a special plant bulletin from Queensland, Australia.

Different Kinds of Rose Ash

In 1969, another scientist named Thomas Gordon Hartley found that there are two slightly different types, or "varieties," of the Rose ash tree. These varieties are:

• Flindersia laevicarpa var. heterophylla: This type usually has shorter leaves, less than 120 mm (4.7 in) (4.7 inches) long. Its leaves typically have only two to four leaflets, and its fruit capsule is a bit longer, 30–52 mm (1.2–2.0 in) (1.2 to 2.0 inches) long.
• Flindersia laevicarpa var. laevicarpa: This type has longer leaves, from 120–300 mm (4.7–11.8 in) (4.7 to 11.8 inches) long. Its leaves usually have four to eight leaflets, and its fruit capsule is a bit shorter, 29–40 mm (1.1–1.6 in) (1.1 to 1.6 inches) long.

Where Does the Rose Ash Tree Live?

The two varieties of Rose ash trees grow in different places:

• The laevicarpa variety likes to grow in rainforests. It's found at heights between 150 and 830 m (490 and 2,720 ft) (about 490 to 2,720 feet) above sea level. You can find it in far north Queensland, Australia, from near the Daintree River to Gadgarra.
• The heterophylla variety grows closer to sea level, up to about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) (3,280 feet) high. This type is found on Misool Island in West Papua and all the way to Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea.