Herberton ironbark facts for kids

The Herberton ironbark (or Eucalyptus atrata) is a special kind of small tree found only in Queensland, Australia. It's also sometimes called the blue-leaved ironbark because its leaves and flower buds have a cool blue-grey, powdery coating. This tree gets its name "ironbark" from its super hard, black bark that covers its trunk and most of its branches. It has long, narrow adult leaves, white flowers that usually grow in groups of seven, and fruit shaped like a cup.

What Does the Herberton Ironbark Look Like?

The Herberton ironbark is a tree with very hard, black bark. It usually grows to be about 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) tall. It can also grow a special woody lump underground called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if there's a fire or damage. Only the very thinnest branches have smooth bark that is cream or brown.

Its leaves and flower buds are covered in a bluish-grey, powdery layer. Young plants and new shoots that grow after the tree has been cut or damaged (called coppice regrowth) have wider, lance-shaped or egg-shaped leaves. These can be up to 70 mm (3 in) long and 45 mm (2 in) wide. They grow on a thick stalk (called a petiole) up to 12 mm (0.5 in) long.

Adult leaves look similar on both sides. They are lance-shaped, about 80–130 mm (3–5 in) long and 12–30 mm (0.5–1 in) wide. Their stalks can be up to 35 mm (1 in) long.

The flower buds usually grow in groups of seven. They appear where the leaves meet the stem (the axil) or at the ends of the branches. Each group of buds grows on a short stalk (a peduncle) that is 4–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long. Each individual flower bud has its own small stalk (a pedicel) that is 3–7 mm (0.12–0.28 in) long.

Mature buds are oval-shaped, about 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. They have a cap-like top (called an operculum) that is slightly shorter than the base of the flower (the floral cup). The Herberton ironbark mainly flowers from December to February, and its flowers are white.

After flowering, the tree produces woody, cup-shaped or half-sphere-shaped fruits. These fruits are called capsules. They are about 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long and 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. Each fruit sits on a small stalk (a pedicel) that is 2–7 mm (0.079–0.28 in) long.

How Did the Herberton Ironbark Get Its Name?

The Herberton ironbark, or Eucalyptus atrata, was officially described in 1991. This was done by two botanists, Lawrie Johnston and Ken Hill. They studied a sample collected by Donald Frederick Blaxell near a place called Irvinebank.

The second part of its scientific name, atrata, comes from a Latin word. It means "dressed in black," which perfectly describes the tree's dark bark!

Where Does the Herberton Ironbark Grow?

The Herberton ironbark grows in open woodlands or forests. You can find it in different spots on and around the Atherton Tableland in Queensland. It's especially common in the area between Herberton, Irvinebank, and Mareeba.

Is the Herberton Ironbark Safe?

Good news! The Queensland Government says that this type of eucalypt is "not threatened." This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing, according to the Nature Conservation Act 1992.