Polyscias murrayi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Polyscias murrayi |
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| Pencil cedar at Berrico Trig, Barrington Tops, Australia | |
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Polyscias
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| Species: |
murrayi
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The Polyscias murrayi, also known as the pencil cedar, is a very common tree found in the rainforests of eastern Australia.
You often see it growing in rainforest areas that have been disturbed, like on hillsides. This tree is easy to spot because of its straight, round trunk. It then branches out into many parts, forming a large, dark crown of leaves.
People also call it the umbrella tree, white basswood, or pencilwood. It grows naturally from the Howe Range in Victoria (in the south) all the way up through New South Wales to Atherton, Queensland (in the north). You can also find it in New Guinea.
What is a Pencil Cedar?
This tree is usually small to medium in size. It can grow up to 25 meters (about 82 feet) tall. Its trunk can be as wide as 50 centimeters (about 20 inches).
How it Looks
The main trunk of the pencil cedar does not have branches at the very end. Instead, it spreads out into many branches, forming a wide, impressive crown. The trunk is mostly smooth and looks grey or brown. The bottom of the tree does not have wide, flat roots or supports.
Its leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Each leaf has 8 to 30 smaller leaflets. These leaflets are opposite each other on the leaf stalk. They are usually oval-shaped with pointed ends, and they can be smooth or have small teeth. Each leaflet is about 8 to 15 cm (3 to 6 inches) long. However, leaves on younger trees can be much bigger. The main leaf stalk can be very long, up to 120 cm (47 inches). You might see a small gland (a tiny bump) between each pair of leaflets. The middle vein of the leaf is often white or a lighter green. You can see the veins more clearly on the top side of the leaf.
Flowers and Fruit
Creamy green flowers grow in clusters called umbels. These flowers appear from February to March. After the flowers, the tree produces a blue fruit. This fruit is a type of drupe, which means it has a hard pit inside, like a peach. It usually has two parts, but sometimes three. The fruit ripens from April to June. If you try to grow new trees from fresh seeds, it can take a while for them to sprout.
Many different birds enjoy eating the fruit of the pencil cedar. These include the brown cuckoo dove, Lewin's honeyeater, rose crowned fruit dove, satin bowerbird, and superb fruit dove.
Why is it Important?
The Polyscias murrayi is very helpful for people who work to restore natural bushland. It acts as a "nursery tree." This means it provides shade for younger, slower-growing trees underneath it. This helps the smaller trees grow strong. It is also a beautiful tree that people like to plant in gardens for its looks.
See also
In Spanish: Polyscias murrayi para niños
