Serpentine ironbark facts for kids

The serpentine ironbark (Eucalyptus ophitica) is a special kind of tree. It is a small ironbark tree that only grows in a tiny part of northern New South Wales, Australia. This means it is endemic to that area. It has grey bark that looks like iron. Its leaves are shaped like a spear. The tree produces white flowers and fruit that look like cups.

What Does the Serpentine Ironbark Look Like?

The serpentine ironbark tree usually grows to be about 10 to 15 meters tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it gets damaged, like from a bushfire.

Leaves of the Tree

The leaves of the serpentine ironbark change as the tree grows.

• Young plants have dull green leaves. These leaves are shaped like an egg or a spear. They are about 7.5 to 20 centimeters long and 3 to 7 centimeters wide.
• Adult leaves are green on both sides. They are shaped like a spear, about 7.8 to 17 centimeters long. These leaves are 1.7 to 2.5 centimeters wide. They narrow down to a stalk called a petiole, which is 1.5 to 2.8 centimeters long.

Flowers and Fruit

The tree's flower buds grow in groups of seven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem. Each group of buds sits on a small stalk, about 4 to 10 millimeters long. The individual buds are on even smaller stalks, 3 to 8 millimeters long.

Mature buds are shaped like a club or a cylinder. They are about 8 to 10 millimeters long and 4 to 6 millimeters wide. Each bud has a rounded cap called an operculum. The flowers of the serpentine ironbark are white. After flowering, the tree produces woody fruit. This fruit is a capsule shaped like a cup, cone, or half-sphere. It is about 4 to 6 millimeters long and 5 to 7 millimeters wide. The parts that release the seeds stick out above the rim of the fruit.

How the Serpentine Ironbark Got Its Name

The serpentine ironbark was first officially described in 1990. Two botanists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill, wrote about it. They found specimens of the tree near a place called Baryulgil in 1984.

The second part of its scientific name, ophitica, comes from a Greek word. "Ophites" means "serpentine rock." This name was chosen because the tree is found growing on serpentine rocks.

Where the Serpentine Ironbark Lives

The serpentine ironbark grows in open woodlands. It prefers hilly areas with special serpentine rock outcrops. You can find this tree in the Upper Clarence region of New South Wales, Australia.