Litsea leefeana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Litsea leefeana |
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| In Topaz Road National Park, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Litsea
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| Species: |
leefeana
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| Synonyms | |
Litsea leefeana, also known as the brown bolly gum or brown bollywood, is a special kind of tree found in rainforests. It belongs to the laurel family. This tree is only found in the tropical rainforests of Queensland, Australia. It can grow to be a small or medium-sized tree.
The name leefeana comes from a person named Mr. Leefe. He was a botanist who collected plants in northern Queensland. This tree is one of eleven types of Litsea trees that grow in Australia, even though most Litsea trees are found in Asia.
Scientists have studied this plant carefully. They found that some trees in southern Queensland and New South Wales that were thought to be Litsea leefeana are actually a different species. These trees are now called Litsea australis.
Contents
About the Brown Bolly Gum Tree
What the Tree Looks Like
The leaves of the brown bolly gum tree are shaped like an oval. They grow one after another along the stem. Each leaf is about 8 to 13 centimeters long and has a rounded tip. The veins on the leaves are very clear and look pretty on both sides.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of this tree are green or cream-colored. They grow from old leaf spots on the branches or where the leaves meet the stem. The fruit is a black, fleshy berry called a drupe. Many different rainforest birds enjoy eating these fruits.
Growing New Trees
It's not hard to grow new brown bolly gum trees from fresh seeds. You just need to remove the black coating around the seed first.
Where it Grows Best
Litsea leefeana makes a good garden plant if you live in an area without frost. Young plants need some extra care. They should be protected from strong winds. They also need lots of shade and moisture to grow well.
Butterflies and the Brown Bolly Gum
Many different types of butterfly larvae (which are like caterpillars) love to eat the leaves of the brown bolly gum tree. This plant provides an important food source for them.
Some of these butterflies include:
- Chaetocneme beata
- Chaetocneme critomedia
- Chaetocneme porphyropis
- Graphium sarpedon
- Trapezites phigalia
- Trapezites petalia
