Grevillea edelfeltii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grevillea edelfeltii |
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Grevillea
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edelfeltii
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The Grevillea edelfeltii, also known as white oak, is a type of tree. It belongs to the Proteaceae plant family. You can find this tree growing naturally in the rainforests of north-east Queensland in Australia and in Papua New Guinea.
Contents
What Does the White Oak Tree Look Like?
In its natural rainforest home, the Grevillea edelfeltii can grow very tall, up to 30 meters (about 100 feet) high. Its bark is grey, hard, and scaly.
Leaves of the White Oak Tree
Both young and old leaves of the white oak are quite long, measuring between 6 and 30 centimeters (about 2 to 12 inches).
- Young leaves are divided into several spear-shaped parts, usually five to nine on each side.
- Adult leaves are simpler, shaped like a single spear. They are about 1 to 6 centimeters (0.4 to 2.4 inches) wide, sometimes even 10 centimeters (4 inches).
The top side of the leaves is a shiny, smooth green with a clear middle vein. The underside is covered in a rust-colored, fuzzy layer.
White Oak Flowers
The flowers of the Grevillea edelfeltii appear in spring and summer, usually from August to December. When they are just starting to grow, the flowerheads are greenish. As they get older, they turn white.
The Name and History of the White Oak Tree
The Grevillea edelfeltii was first officially described in 1885 by a scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He wrote about it in his book Descriptive Notes on Papuan plants. He studied samples of the tree found in the Astrolabe Range in Papua New Guinea.
Why the Name Changed
The name of this tree can be a bit confusing! The Australian Plant Census now often calls this tree Grevillea baileyana. This name was given by botanist Donald McGillivray in 1986. He chose this name to honor two other botanists, Frederick Manson Bailey and his son John Frederick Bailey.
Other Names for the White Oak
Besides white oak, this tree is also known by other common names. These include scrub beefwood and brown silky oak.
Where the White Oak Tree Grows
The Grevillea edelfeltii is found in both New Guinea and Australia. In Australia, it grows in the northeastern part of Queensland. You can see it in places like the McIlwraith Range, near Coen, and from Cooktown south to Ingham. It likes to grow in rainforests and along the edges of rainforests, usually in soil that comes from granite rock.
Growing and Using the White Oak Tree
The white oak is a beautiful plant for gardens because of its sweet-smelling white flowers and green leaves. It grows best in soil that is rich in compost, a bit acidic, and drains water well. These trees can live for a long time in gardens. They usually grow to be about 8 to 10 meters (25–35 feet) tall.
Flowering and Propagation
In tropical areas, the white oak flowers a lot. However, if you plant it in cooler areas, it might take many years for the flowers to appear. Most of the time, new white oak trees are grown from seeds. Sometimes, they can also be grown from cuttings, which are small pieces of the plant.
Uses of White Oak Wood and Foliage
The wood of the white oak tree is white or pinkish. It can be used for making furniture or for wood turning, which is shaping wood on a machine.
The leaves of the white oak are also very special. People like to use them in flower arrangements because the dark green top surface and the gold or bronze underside create a unique look. The Grevillea edelfeltii was one of five plants chosen to be tested for use as "native foliage products." This was because of how long its leaves lasted in a vase, how well it grew in different climates, and how much people liked it. Its foliage was even used in the bouquets given to medal winners at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney!
Images for kids
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The Grevillea edelfeltii tree, also known as white oak.
