Guioa semiglauca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guioa semiglauca |
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| large Guioa semiglauca at Hacking River, Australia | |
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Guioa
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| Species: |
semiglauca
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The Guioa semiglauca, also known as the guioa or wild quince, is a special tree found in the rainforests of eastern Australia. You can find it growing from Kioloa in southern New South Wales all the way up to Eungella National Park in tropical Queensland. This tree likes to grow in many different kinds of rainforests. It's often seen in areas where the forest is regrowing, and it loves sandy spots near the coast.
Contents
About the Guioa Tree
What the Guioa Tree Looks Like
The guioa tree can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching about 20 metres (that's like a six-story building!). Its trunk can be around 43 centimetres wide. However, you might often see smaller guioa trees.
The outer bark of the tree is smooth. It often has cool colours and patterns from different lichens growing on it. The bark looks a bit like the Coachwood tree's bark. But the guioa's bark is usually more bumpy and uneven.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the guioa tree are made up of smaller leaflets. These leaflets are 5 to 10 centimetres long and have clear veins. They are arranged in a pattern called pinnate, which means they look like a feather. The main vein of each leaflet sticks out a little bit at the end, forming a tiny tip.
The top side of the leaves is green. The bottom side is a whitish colour, which is called glaucous. This whitish look is caused by a fine, powdery coating.
The guioa tree produces yellow and green flowers. These flowers usually appear between September and November.
Fruit and Seeds
After the flowers, the tree grows a fruit called a fruiting capsule. This capsule ripens from January to May. Inside, you'll find oval-shaped seeds. Each seed is covered by a thin, fleshy layer called an aril.
Many different birds love to eat the fruit of the guioa tree. One of these birds is the colourful Australian king parrot.
How People Used the Guioa Tree
Traditional Uses
Long ago, Indigenous Australians found a special use for the bark of the guioa tree. The bark contains a substance called saponin. Saponin can create a soapy foam when mixed with water.
Indigenous Australians would use this saponin from the bark to help them catch fish. They would put the bark into water, which would stun the fish, making them easier to gather. This was a clever way to use nature's resources for food.
Gallery
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A group of Guioa semiglauca trees growing on the Illawarra Escarpment near Kiama.
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Another view of Guioa semiglauca trees on the Illawarra Escarpment.
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Guioa semiglauca growing behind Seven Mile Beach, New South Wales.
See also
In Spanish: Guioa semiglauca para niños
