Johnson's quandong facts for kids
Elaeocarpus johnsonii, often called the Kuranda quandong or Johnson's quandong, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Elaeocarpaceae family. This tree is special because it is found only in north-east Queensland, Australia. It's a small to medium-sized tree, often growing with several main stems. It has oval-shaped leaves, and its flowers grow in clusters. After the flowers bloom, they turn into dark blue fruits.
Quick facts for kids Johnson's quandong |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Elaeocarpus
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| Species: |
johnsonii
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Contents
What the Kuranda Quandong Looks Like
The Kuranda quandong is a small to medium-sized tree. It usually grows up to 20 meters (about 65 feet) tall. Often, it has several strong, wide trunks that look like they have "buttresses" or supports at the bottom. Young branches are covered with soft, woolly brown hairs.
Its leaves are mostly found in groups at the ends of the branches. They are hairy and shaped like an oval or an egg, with the narrower part towards the base. The leaves are typically 100–160 mm (about 4–6 inches) long and 55–80 mm (about 2–3 inches) wide. They grow on a small stem called a petiole, which is 2–3 mm long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the Kuranda quandong grow in clusters called racemes. These clusters are 10–30 mm (about 0.4–1.2 inches) long and can have up to seven flowers. Each flower hangs on a strong stalk called a pedicel, which is 15–25 mm long.
Each flower has five narrow, triangle-shaped sepals. Sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. These sepals are about 16 mm long and 4 mm wide, and they are very hairy on the back. The five petals are about 18 mm long and 6 mm wide. The tips of the petals are split into two or three fringed parts. Inside the flower, there are between thirty and thirty-five stamens, which produce pollen.
The Kuranda quandong flowers in September. Its fruit is a dark blue, waxy fruit called a drupe. A drupe is a fleshy fruit with a hard pit inside, like a peach or a cherry. These fruits are 27–30 mm (about 1.1–1.2 inches) long.
How the Kuranda Quandong Got Its Name
The plant Elaeocarpus johnsonii was first officially described in 1893. This description was made by a botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He wrote about it in a science journal called Journal of Botany, British and Foreign.
Sometimes, the name of the plant is also linked to "C.T.White." This is because White noted that he couldn't find where Mueller's description was first published.
Where the Kuranda Quandong Lives
The Kuranda quandong grows in rainforests. It is found at high places, from 600 to 1300 meters (about 2,000 to 4,300 feet) above sea level. This tree is only found in specific areas of north-east Queensland. These areas include Thornton Peak, Mount Pieter Botte, Mount Bartle Frere, and nearby regions.
Animals That Interact with the Kuranda Quandong
The fruit of the Kuranda quandong is an important food source for some animals. Cassowary birds eat the fruits that fall from the tree. Native rats also enjoy eating the seeds found inside the fruits.
Conservation Status
The Queensland Government has a list of plants and animals. The Kuranda quandong is listed as being of "least concern" under their Nature Conservation Act 1992. This means that the plant is not currently considered to be at risk of disappearing.
