Tree geebung facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tree geebung |
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| Persoonia arborea in Toolangi State Forest | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Persoonia
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| Species: |
arborea
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| Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
| Synonyms | |
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Linkia arborea (F.Muell.) Kuntze |
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The tree geebung (scientific name: Persoonia arborea) is a special type of large bush or small tree. It only grows in Victoria, Australia, which means it's endemic there. It's a unique plant found only in this part of the world.
Contents
What the Tree Geebung Looks Like
The tree geebung is usually a large shrub or a small tree. It can grow to be about 3 to 14 meters (around 10 to 46 feet) tall. Its younger branches are covered in soft, greyish or rust-colored hairs.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the tree geebung are shaped a bit like a narrow spoon or a spear, with the narrower end closer to the stem. They are typically 40 to 100 millimeters (about 1.5 to 4 inches) long and 6 to 21 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.8 inches) wide.
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower has a short stalk, called a pedicel, which is up to 5 millimeters long. The flower parts, called tepals, are 16 to 20 millimeters long. They have hairs on the outside and a small spine at the end. Inside the flowers, you'll find white anthers, which are part of the stamens that produce pollen.
Flowering and Fruit
Tree geebungs usually bloom from December to March. After flowering, they produce a yellowish-green, oval-shaped fruit. This fruit is a type of drupe, which means it has a fleshy outer part and a hard pit inside, like a peach or a cherry. The fruit can grow to about 14 millimeters (0.5 inches) long and 12 millimeters (0.4 inches) wide.
How the Tree Geebung Got Its Name
The tree geebung was first officially described in 1865 by a scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He wrote about it in a book called Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. He found the plant material for his description near the start of the La Trobe and Yarra Rivers.
Where the Tree Geebung Lives
The tree geebung grows in forests with lots of rain, especially in areas with mountain ash trees. These forests are located to the north-east of Melbourne, at heights between 450 and 1200 meters (about 1,476 to 3,937 feet) above sea level.
Conservation Status
Even though it's only found in a small area, the tree geebung is quite common within that space. It can even grow well in areas that have been disturbed, like after a bushfire or logging.
About 40% of its natural home is inside the Yarra Ranges National Park, which helps protect it. The other 60% is on public land that is used for logging. Because its habitat is limited, it is listed as "vulnerable" on a special list of rare or threatened plants in Victoria. This means it needs to be watched carefully to make sure its numbers stay healthy.
