Kageneckia oblonga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kageneckia oblonga |
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The Kageneckia oblonga is a special plant, also known as bollen. It belongs to the Rosaceae family, which includes roses and apples! This plant is a type of evergreen tree. It grows only in Chile, which means it is endemic there.
You can find K. oblonga growing in Chile from the Coquimbo region all the way down to Malleco. This covers a wide area, from about 29 to 38 degrees South latitude. Some places where it grows are La Campana National Park and the forests around Cerro La Campana. In these areas, it often grows near the Chilean Wine Palm, which is an endangered tree.
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What Kageneckia oblonga Looks Like
This plant can be a small tree or a shrub. It is an evergreen, meaning its leaves stay green all year round. It can grow up to 5 meters (about 16 feet) tall.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the Kageneckia oblonga are very tough and leathery. They are shaped like an oblong, which means they are longer than they are wide. The edges of the leaves have small teeth. They are yellowish-green and usually about 3 to 6 centimeters long. Each leaf has a small stem called a petiole.
The flowers are white and shaped like stars. They can grow alone or in small groups. Each flower has 5 sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. It also has 5 petals, forming the main part of the flower. Male flowers have many stamens, which produce pollen.
Fruit and Seeds
After the flowers, a unique fruit grows. It is a star-shaped capsule with five parts. This fruit is about 2 to 3 centimeters wide. Inside the fruit are seeds that have small wings, which help them fly away in the wind to new places.
Uses of the Bollen Tree
The wood from the Kageneckia oblonga tree is very strong and hard. Because of this, people use it to make different tools.
In traditional medicine, parts of the plant are used. For example, it has been used to help people throw up (as an emetic) or to help with digestion (as a laxative).
Where the Name Comes From
The name Kageneckia was given to honor Frederick von Kageneck. He was an ambassador from Austria to Madrid. The second part of the name, oblonga, describes the shape of the leaves. It means "oblong" or "longer than wide," which fits the plant's leaf shape perfectly.
See also
In Spanish: Kageneckia oblonga para niños
