Silvertop ash facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Silvertop ash |
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| Silvertop ash at Katoomba | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
sieberi
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The silvertop ash, also known as black ash, is a type of tree found only in south-eastern Australia. Its scientific name is Eucalyptus sieberi. This tree can grow to be quite tall.
You can spot a silvertop ash by its rough bark on the trunk and lower branches. The bark higher up on the tree is smooth. It has long, curved adult leaves, and its flowers are white. These flowers grow in groups of seven to fifteen, and the fruit looks like a small, woody barrel or cone.
Contents
What the Silvertop Ash Looks Like
The silvertop ash is a tree that usually grows between 25 and 45 meters (about 82 to 148 feet) tall. It has two different types of bark.
Bark and Leaves
The bark on the main trunk and larger branches is rough. On younger trees, this rough bark is thin and flaky. As the tree gets older, it becomes thick, dark grey or black, and has deep grooves. The bark on the upper branches is smooth and can be white or yellow.
Young silvertop ash plants have leaves that are bluish-green and shaped like an egg or a spear. These leaves are about 6 to 17 centimeters (2.4 to 6.7 inches) long and 1.6 to 7.5 centimeters (0.6 to 3 inches) wide. Adult leaves are shiny green on both sides. They are shaped like a spear or are slightly curved, measuring about 8.5 to 19.5 centimeters (3.3 to 7.7 inches) long and 1.2 to 3.8 centimeters (0.5 to 1.5 inches) wide. Each adult leaf has a stem about 1 to 2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The tree's flower buds grow in groups of seven to fifteen. They are found where the leaves meet the stem. Each group of buds is on a single stem about 8 to 16 millimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long. The individual buds are on smaller stems about 3 to 7 millimeters (0.1 to 0.3 inches) long.
When the buds are ready to open, they are oval or club-shaped. They are about 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. Each bud has a rounded or flat cap on top. Silvertop ash trees bloom from September to January, and their flowers are white.
After flowering, the tree produces fruit. This fruit is a woody capsule, shaped like a barrel or a cone. It is about 6 to 11 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long and 6 to 9 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide. The parts that open to release seeds are near the top edge of the fruit.
Where Silvertop Ash Grows
Silvertop ash trees grow in forests and woodlands. They often form large groups of just silvertop ash trees. These trees prefer shallow soils that are not very rich in nutrients.
You can find silvertop ash in several parts of Australia. It grows from south-eastern Queensland, through the western slopes and plains of New South Wales. It is also found on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria and in north-eastern Tasmania.
How People Use Silvertop Ash
The wood from the silvertop ash tree is very useful. It is used for many things, including:
- Building houses and other structures
- Making flooring
- Creating outdoor decks
- Crafting handles for tools
- Producing wood chips
One important use of silvertop ash is for making wood chips. These chips are exported from places like Eden, Australia, to be turned into paper, especially writing paper.
Gallery
- Features of the silvertop ash (Eucalyptus sieberi)
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Adult leaves
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Buds
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Fruit
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Trunk bark
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Upper branch bark
