Scrub beefwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scrub beefwood |
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| Leaves, Brisbane Water National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Stenocarpus
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| Species: |
salignus
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The Stenocarpus salignus, also known as the scrub beefwood, is a special tree from the Australian rainforest. It belongs to a plant family called Proteaceae. You can find this tree growing in warmer rainforest areas, especially along the coast and in mountain ranges. It often grows in places with warm weather and certain types of soil, or on hills higher than 750 meters (about 2,460 feet). A botanist named Robert Brown first described this tree in 1810.
The scrub beefwood tree is easy to spot because of its unique bark, which looks like a puzzle, and its leaves, which are mostly high up in the tree. These trees grow naturally from a place called Kioloa in southern New South Wales all the way up to Rockhampton in tropical Queensland.
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What Does the Scrub Beefwood Look Like?
The scrub beefwood can be a small tree or a large shrub. Sometimes, it can grow up to 30 meters (about 98 feet) tall. Its trunk can be quite wide, up to 60 centimeters (about 24 inches) across. The trunk often has an uneven shape and dark brown bark that looks like scales.
Leaves of the Scrub Beefwood
The leaves of this tree have wavy edges. They usually have one to three main veins running along them. Each leaf grows separately and has a simple, oval, or spear-like shape. The leaves have a sharp, hard point at one end and slowly get narrower towards the base. They are shiny and dark green on top, and a lighter green underneath. Each leaf is about 8 to 15 centimeters (3 to 6 inches) long and 3 to 5 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) wide. The leaves of this tree can look quite different from one tree to another.
Flowers and Seeds
From October to January, the scrub beefwood tree grows white, sweet-smsmelling flowers. These flowers grow in clusters, similar to the flowers of its relative, the Grevillea plant. After the flowers, long, thin seed pods start to grow. These pods are about 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long. They are green at first and then turn brown when they are ready. Inside these pods, there are many thin, paper-like seeds. Each seed is about 12 millimeters (half an inch) long. The fruit ripens from March to June. Fresh seeds grow quickly, and new plants can also be grown from cuttings.
Growing Scrub Beefwood Trees
You might find this tree in special plant nurseries in Eastern Australia. It grows well in places that have some shade and soil that drains water well and is a little bit acidic. It is not as commonly grown as its more famous relative, S. sinuatus.
See also
In Spanish: Scrub beefwood para niños
