Silver silkwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Silver silkwood |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Flindersia
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| Species: |
acuminata
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The Silver silkwood (scientific name: Flindersia acuminata) is a tall tree that grows in the rainforests of northern Queensland, Australia. People also call it icewood, Putt's pine, Paddy King's beech, or silver maple. This tree has special leaves with many small leaflets. It also produces creamy yellow flowers and interesting fruit that looks a bit bumpy.
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What Does the Silver Silkwood Look Like?
The Silver silkwood is a very tall tree. It can grow up to 33 meters high, which is like a 10-story building! Its bark is usually pale brown. When the tree is young, its new shoots are covered with tiny, star-shaped hairs.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the Silver silkwood are called pinnate leaves. This means they have a central stem with smaller leaf parts, called leaflets, growing on each side. Each leaf has between six and ten leaflets. These leaflets are shaped like an egg or an oval. They are usually 50 to 250 millimeters long and 13 to 48 millimeters wide.
The flowers of the Silver silkwood are creamy yellow. They grow in groups called panicles, which are like branched clusters. These flower clusters can be 70 to 230 millimeters long. Each flower has five sepals (small leaf-like parts at the base of the flower) about 2 millimeters long. It also has five petals, which are about 3 millimeters long.
Fruit and Seeds
Silver silkwood trees bloom from November to January. After the flowers, the tree produces its fruit. The fruit is a woody capsule, which is a dry fruit that splits open when it's ripe. These capsules are quite long, about 90 to 120 millimeters. They are covered with short, rough points. When the fruit is ready, it splits into five sections. Each section holds three seeds that have wings, helping them to fly away in the wind.
Who Named This Tree?
The Silver silkwood was first officially described in 1919. A scientist named Cyril Tenison White gave it its scientific name, Flindersia acuminata. He wrote about it in a special publication called the Botany Bulletin for the Queensland Department of Agriculture.
Where Does It Grow?
The Silver silkwood tree lives in rainforests. It grows at high places, from 200 to 1000 meters above sea level. You can find it in far north Queensland, Australia. Its home stretches from near a town called Kuranda all the way to Mission Beach.
How Is It Doing?
Good news! The Silver silkwood is not in danger. The Queensland Government has classified it as being of "least concern" under their Nature Conservation Act 1992. This means there are plenty of these trees around, and they are not at risk of disappearing.
