Scolopia braunii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scolopia braunii |
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| Scolopia braunii growing at Tamban Forest, near Kempsey, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Scolopia
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| Species: |
braunii
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The Scolopia braunii is a special tree found in the rainforests of Australia. People call it by many names, like flintwood, mountain cherry, brown birch, or just scolopia. It loves to grow in the coastal rainforests of Australia.
You can find Scolopia braunii growing all along the eastern coast of Australia. Its natural home stretches from Jervis Bay in the south, all the way up to the very northern tip of Australia, called Cape York Peninsula.
What Does This Tree Look Like?
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This tree is usually a medium size. It can grow up to 25 meters (about 82 feet) tall. Its trunk can be as wide as 50 centimeters (about 20 inches). Bigger trees often have a trunk that looks a bit wider at the bottom, like it has "feet."
The bark of the tree is thin and has an orange-brown color. It has small bumps and scaly spots on it.
Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit
Young leaves on this tree are red and shaped like a diamond. They grow on thin branches that have pale spots called lenticels. The leaves grow one after another along the branch. They are usually 4 to 9 centimeters long and sometimes have small teeth on their edges.
Creamy white flowers appear in bunches called panicles. You can see these flowers from September to November.
The fruit of the Scolopia braunii is a red berry. It turns black when it is fully ripe. Each berry is about 1 centimeter (less than half an inch) wide. Inside, there are usually two to four seeds. The fruit is ready to pick from December to April.
How Does It Grow?
Growing new trees from the seeds of Scolopia braunii can be a bit tricky. Sometimes the seeds sprout in just three weeks. Other times, they take a long time or don't grow at all.
A better way to grow new trees is by using cuttings. This means taking a small piece of a branch and helping it grow roots.
- Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 1989, ISBN: 0-909605-57-2
See also
In Spanish: Scolopia braunii para niños
