Mountain silkwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain silkwood |
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| Near Atherton | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Flindersia
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| Species: |
oppositifolia
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Flindersia oppositifolia, also known as mountain silkwood, is a special kind of tree. It grows only in one specific mountain range in northern Queensland, Australia. This tree has simple leaves that often grow in pairs. It also has dark red flowers and fruits that look a bit bumpy.
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What Does Mountain Silkwood Look Like?
The mountain silkwood tree can grow very tall, sometimes reaching up to 30 meters (about 100 feet) high. Its leaves are simple, meaning each leaf is just one blade. They are usually arranged in pairs, one leaf across from the other. These leaves are shaped like an egg or an oval. They can be from 30 to 120 millimeters long and 14 to 32 millimeters wide. Each leaf has a small stem called a petiole, which is about 5 to 25 millimeters long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the mountain silkwood grow in groups called panicles. A panicle is a branched cluster of flowers. These flower clusters are usually 30 to 90 millimeters long. Each flower has five small green parts called sepals, which are like tiny leaves that protect the bud. They also have five dark reddish petals, which are the colorful parts of the flower. These petals are about 5 to 9 millimeters long.
Mountain silkwood trees usually bloom, or flower, between October and November. After the flowers, the tree produces a woody fruit. This fruit is a type of capsule, which means it's a dry fruit that splits open when it's ripe. The fruit is about 75 to 80 millimeters long and has short, rough bumps all over it. When the fruit is ready, it splits into five parts. This releases the seeds, which are winged and about 35 to 40 millimeters long. The wings help the seeds float away in the wind to find a new place to grow.
How Did It Get Its Name?
Scientists give every living thing a special two-part name, like Flindersia oppositifolia. This helps everyone around the world know exactly which plant or animal they are talking about.
The mountain silkwood was first officially described in 1892. A scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller gave it the name Hypsophila oppositifolia. He wrote about it in a science journal called The Victorian Naturalist. He had studied samples of the tree collected from Mount Bartle Frere. Later, in 1982, two other scientists, Thomas Hartley and Laurence Jessup, changed its name to Flindersia oppositifolia. They published this new name in a journal called Brunonia.
Where Does This Tree Live?
The mountain silkwood tree is very particular about where it lives. It grows only in rainforests. You can find it at high altitudes, usually between 1300 and 1500 meters (about 4,265 to 4,920 feet) above sea level. This tree is only found in one place in the world: the Bellenden Ker Range in northern Queensland, Australia. This means it is endemic to that specific area.
Is It Safe?
The Queensland Government has a special law called the Nature Conservation Act 1992. This law helps protect plants and animals. Under this law, Flindersia oppositifolia is classified as being of "least concern." This means that scientists believe there are enough of these trees in the wild, and they are not currently at risk of disappearing. It's good news for the mountain silkwood!
