Lakefield coolibah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lakefield coolibah |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
acroleuca
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The Lakefield coolibah (scientific name: Eucalyptus acroleuca) is a special type of tree. It only grows in one place: the Cape York Peninsula in northern Australia. This tree has rough, patterned bark near its bottom, but its upper bark is smooth and white. It has long, narrow leaves, buds that look like ovals or clubs, and cup-shaped fruits.
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What the Lakefield Coolibah Looks Like
The Lakefield coolibah is a tree that can grow up to 25 m (80 ft) tall. The bark at the bottom of its trunk is hard, black, or dark grey, and has a pattern like a checkerboard. This rough bark covers the lowest 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) of the trunk.
Above this, the bark is smooth and white. This smooth bark peels off every year. The leaves of an adult tree are shaped like a spearhead. They are usually 70–170 mm (3–7 in) long and 6–20 mm (0.2–0.8 in) wide. Each leaf has a small stem, called a petiole, which is 4–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long.
The flowers of the Lakefield coolibah grow in small groups, with up to seven flowers in each group. These groups are on a thin stalk, called a peduncle, which is up to 8 mm (0.3 in) long. Each individual flower sits on an even smaller stalk, called a pedicel, about 1–3 mm (0.039–0.12 in) long.
The buds are shaped like ovals or clubs. They are about 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.14 in) long and 1.5–2.5 mm (0.059–0.098 in) wide when they are fully grown. The cap of the bud, called the operculum, is shaped like half a sphere. It is about half as long as the flower cup. After the flowers bloom, the tree produces cup-shaped fruits. These fruits are 2–3 mm (0.079–0.12 in) long and 1.5–2.5 mm (0.06–0.1 in) wide.
How the Lakefield Coolibah Got Its Name
The Eucalyptus acroleuca was first officially described in 1994. Two botanists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill, gave it its scientific name. They found a sample of the tree near the New Laura Homestead.
The second part of its scientific name, acroleuca, comes from two ancient Greek words. "Acros" means "highest," and "leucos" means "white." This name refers to the white bark found on the higher branches of this tree.
Where the Lakefield Coolibah Lives
This tree often grows in areas where it is the only type of tree, forming "pure stands" in woodlands. It prefers heavy soils that get flooded during the wet season. You can often find these trees growing near permanent lagoons. The Lakefield coolibah is found in the Lakefield National Park.
Protecting the Lakefield Coolibah
The Queensland Government has a law called the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Under this law, the Eucalyptus acroleuca is listed as "least concern." This means that the tree is not currently in danger of disappearing.
