Persoonia tropica facts for kids

The Persoonia tropica is a special plant found only in north Queensland, Australia. It belongs to the Proteaceae family, which includes many unique plants. This plant is usually a tall bush or a small tree. Its young branches are a bit hairy. It has long, narrow leaves and pretty yellow flowers. These flowers grow in small groups along a stem that keeps growing even after the flowers bloom.

What Does Persoonia tropica Look Like?

The Persoonia tropica is a tall shrub or small tree. It can grow up to about 2 to 3.5 meters (7 to 11 feet) tall. It has smooth, grey bark. When the young branches first grow, they are covered in soft, grey or brownish hairs.

Leaves and Flowers

• The leaves are long and narrow, shaped like an ellipse or a spear.
• They are about 4.5 to 11 centimeters (1.8 to 4.3 inches) long.
• The leaves are also about 0.7 to 2.1 centimeters (0.3 to 0.8 inches) wide.
• When they are young, the leaves are hairy. But as they get older, they become mostly smooth (this is called glabrous).
• The bright yellow flowers grow in groups of three to ten.
• They are found along a small stem (called a rachis) that is about 3 to 10 millimeters long. This stem keeps growing even after the flowers bloom.
• Each flower sits on a short, hairy stalk (called a pedicel).
• The flower parts, called tepals, are yellow and about 9 to 11 millimeters long. They have a few hairs on them.

When Does It Flower and What About Its Fruit?

• You can see Persoonia tropica flowers throughout the year, but they bloom most often in spring.
• After flowering, the plant produces a fruit.
• This fruit is a green to pale yellow drupe, which is a type of fleshy fruit with a hard pit inside.
• The fruit is about 9 to 11 millimeters long and 5.5 to 6 millimeters wide.

How Was Persoonia tropica Named?

The Persoonia tropica was officially described in 1994. Two scientists, Peter Weston and Lawrie Johnson, gave it its scientific name. They published their findings in a science journal called Telopea. They studied plant samples collected in 1991 near a place called Koombooloomba Dam.

Where Does Persoonia tropica Live?

This special plant, also known as a geebung, grows in forests in north Queensland, Australia. You can find it in areas like the Herberton Range, near Ravenshoe, and around the upper Tully River. It grows at high places, from about 700 to 1200 meters (2,300 to 3,900 feet) above sea level.

Is Persoonia tropica Protected?

Good news! The Persoonia tropica is listed as a plant of "least concern" by the Queensland Government. This means that it is not currently considered to be in danger of disappearing. Its status is managed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.