Granite ironbark facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Granite ironbark
Eucalyptus granitica in Davies Creek National Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Eucalyptus
Species:	E. granitica
Binomial name
Eucalyptus granitica L.A.S.Johnson & K.D.Hill
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The Granite Ironbark (Eucalyptus granitica) is a special type of tree found only in Queensland, Australia. This means it is endemic to that area. It gets its name from its dark grey or black bark, which looks and feels like iron. This tree has shiny green leaves, white flowers that grow in groups, and fruit shaped like a cup or barrel.

What Does the Granite Ironbark Look Like?

The Granite Ironbark is a tree that usually grows up to 20 m (66 ft) (about 65 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.

Bark and Leaves

The tree's trunk and branches are covered in hard or soft bark that is dark grey to black. This is where the name "ironbark" comes from.

Young Granite Ironbark plants have stems that are somewhat square. Their leaves are long and narrow, like a spear, measuring 60–110 mm (2.4–4.3 in) (2.4 to 4.3 inches) long and 1–20 mm (0.039–0.787 in) (0.04 to 0.8 inches) wide. These young leaves often grow directly from the stem without a stalk.

Adult leaves are also spear-shaped. They are shiny green on both sides. These leaves are 70–150 mm (2.8–5.9 in) (2.8 to 5.9 inches) long and 13–32 mm (0.51–1.26 in) (0.5 to 1.3 inches) wide. Each adult leaf has a stalk, called a petiole, which is 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long.

Flowers and Fruit

The flower buds of the Granite Ironbark usually grow in groups of seven. These groups are found on a small branched stem called a peduncle, which is 3–11 mm (0.12–0.43 in) (0.1 to 0.4 inches) long. Each individual bud has its own tiny stalk, called a pedicel, about 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) (0.08 to 0.16 inches) long.

When the buds are ready to open, they are oval-shaped, about 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) (0.16 to 0.24 inches) long and 3 mm (0.12 in) (0.12 inches) wide. They have a cap, called an operculum, which can be cone-shaped or rounded.

The Granite Ironbark mostly flowers between July and September. Its flowers are white. After flowering, the tree produces woody fruit. These fruits are shaped like a cup or a barrel. They are 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) (0.16 to 0.24 inches) long and 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) (0.12 to 0.24 inches) wide. Inside the fruit, the parts that release the seeds are usually near or below the rim.

How Was the Granite Ironbark Named?

The scientific name Eucalyptus granitica was first officially described in 1991. Two botanists, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson, gave it this name. They found a sample of the tree near Atherton, on the road to Herberton.

The description of the tree was published in a science journal called Telopea. The second part of its scientific name, granitica, comes from a Latin word meaning "relating to granite." This name was chosen because this tree often grows in areas with granite rock.

Where Does the Granite Ironbark Grow?

The Granite Ironbark is commonly found in the hilly areas of Queensland. It grows in soils that come from granite and volcanic rocks. You can find it from the Atherton Tableland all the way to Paluma.

Is the Granite Ironbark Protected?

The Queensland Government has a law called the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Under this law, the Granite Ironbark is classified as "least concern." This means that the tree is not currently at risk of disappearing. There are plenty of them in the wild.