White hazelwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White hazelwood |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| A large Symplocos stawellii growing by the Hacking River, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Symplocos
|
| Species: |
stawellii
|
| Synonyms | |
The Symplocos stawellii, also known as the white hazelwood, is a type of tree that grows in the rainforests of eastern Australia. You can often find it near creeks in valleys, especially in tropical and sub-tropical rainforest areas.
This tree naturally grows from a place called Gerringong Creek in the Kangaroo Valley in New South Wales all the way up to the Atherton Tableland in tropical Queensland. It also grows in New Guinea.
Contents
What Does the White Hazelwood Look Like?
The white hazelwood is usually a small to medium-sized tree. It can grow up to 30 meters (about 98 feet) tall and its trunk can be 80 centimeters (about 31 inches) wide. However, it is often much smaller than this.
Trunk and Bark
The trunk of the white hazelwood tree is usually straight and round. Older, larger trees might have a wider base, which looks like a flared bottom.
The bark of the tree is quite smooth. It is typically grey or a light brown color. You might notice horizontal lines or bands on the bark. Sometimes, the outer part of the bark has small bumps or horizontal cracks.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the white hazelwood grow in an alternating pattern along the stem. They feel firm and have small teeth along their edges. Each leaf is shaped like an oval, measuring about 8 to 16 centimeters (about 3 to 6 inches) long. The tip of the leaf is usually rounded.
The stalk that connects the leaf to the branch is about 9 to 20 millimeters long and feels smooth. You can see the veins on both sides of the leaf, but they are clearer on the underside.
The tree produces white, sweet-smelling flowers. These flowers grow in clusters called panicles. You can usually see these flowers between April and July.
Fruits and Seeds
After the flowers, the tree grows a type of fruit called a drupe. This fruit is fleshy, blue-black, and shaped like an egg. The fruits ripen between October and April.
Inside the fruit, there are brown, pear-shaped seeds that are about 8 millimeters long. Many rainforest birds enjoy eating these fruits, including the rose-crowned fruit-dove and the superb fruit-dove.
Images for kids
-
A Symplocos stawellii leaf on the forest floor in Little Mountain, QLD.
-
Symplocos stawellii flowers on the forest floor near the Hacking River, Australia.
-
Symplocos stawellii leaves, seen from the forest floor near the Hacking River.
-
A Podocarpus elatus tree (in the front, left) and the trunk of a Symplocos stawellii tree near the Hacking River.
-
The base of a Symplocos stawellii tree near the Hacking River.
-
A flower panicle (cluster) of Symplocos stawellii.
-
A close-up view of the bark of Symplocos stawellii.
-
Another view of the base of a Symplocos stawellii tree near the Hacking River.
-
A Symplocos stawellii tree with a climbing plant on its bark, near the Hacking River.
See also
In Spanish: Symplocos stawellii para niños
