Medicosma mulgraveana facts for kids

Medicosma mulgraveana is a special kind of small tree. It belongs to the Rutaceae family, which also includes citrus fruits like oranges and lemons! This tree is only found in a small area of far north Queensland, Australia. It has interesting leaves with three parts and pretty white flowers that grow in small groups.

What Does the Mulgrave Medicosma Look Like?

The Mulgrave Medicosma is a tree that usually grows up to 8 meters (about 26 feet) tall. Its leaves are quite unique. They are called "trifoliate," which means each leaf has three smaller leaf parts, like a clover. These three parts are called "leaflets."

The main stem of the leaf, called a petiole, can be from 15 to 90 millimeters long. The leaflets themselves are shaped like an oval or an egg, wider at one end and narrower at the base. They are about 75 to 180 millimeters long and 30 to 70 millimeters wide.

The flowers grow in small groups, each group being 25 to 120 millimeters long. Each individual flower sits on a tiny stalk called a pedicel, which is about 1.5 millimeters long. The green leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud, called sepals, are 4 to 5.5 millimeters long and are "glabrous." This means they are smooth and have no hairs.

The flower petals are white and also 4 to 5.5 millimeters long. The back of the petals is covered with soft hairs that lie flat against the surface. This tree has been seen flowering in November. After flowering, it produces a fruit called a follicle, which is also smooth (glabrous) and about 7.5 to 8 millimeters long.

How Scientists Named It

The scientific name Medicosma mulgraveana was first officially given to this tree in 1985. It was described by a scientist named Thomas Gordon Hartley. He wrote about it in a science magazine called the Australian Journal of Botany. The tree was named after the East Mulgrave River, where the first samples were collected in 1975.

Where Does It Grow?

This special medicosma tree grows in rainforests. It is found at a high altitude of about 700 meters (around 2,300 feet) above sea level. So far, it is only known to grow in the exact place where the first samples were found. This is called its "type location." This means it is endemic to a very specific, small area.

Is It Safe? Conservation Status

The Queensland Government has looked at the conservation status of this tree. Under their Nature Conservation Act 1992, Medicosma mulgraveana is classified as being of "least concern." This means that, for now, scientists believe there are enough of these trees, and they are not currently at high risk of disappearing.