Killarney satinash facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Killarney satinash |
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| Syzygium corynanthum Boorganna Nature Reserve near Taree, New South Wales, Australia. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Syzygium
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| Species: |
corynanthum
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| Synonyms | |
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Eugenia corynantha F.Muell. |
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The Syzygium corynanthum is a special tree found in Australia. It grows in rainforests from Taree, New South Wales all the way up to sunny Queensland. People often call it the sour cherry or Killarney satinash. Even though it's called "sour cherry," its fruit isn't actually very sour! This tree loves to grow in rich, fertile soils, often found where old lava flows (basalt) or river sediments (alluvial) have made the ground extra good for plants.
About the Sour Cherry Tree
The Syzygium corynanthum is a medium-sized tree. It can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching up to 30 metres (about 100 feet) high. Its trunk can also become very wide, up to 90 centimetres (about 3 feet) across. When you look at the top of the tree, called its crown, it looks dark and very full.
The bark of this tree is grey and scaly. It has many small dips and marks where pieces of bark have fallen off. At the very bottom, the trunk might look a little wider or have small "buttresses" to help support the tree.
Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit
The leaves of the Syzygium corynanthum grow in pairs, one across from the other. They are simple in shape and have smooth edges. If you look closely, you can see many tiny oil dots on the leaves.
The flowers of the sour cherry tree are creamy white. They grow in short, thick bunches. You can usually see these flowers from April to July.
The fruit of the tree ripens between September and December. It's a bright red berry that is wider at the top than at the bottom. At the base of the fruit, you can see four small parts that used to be part of the flower. The fruit is not very sour, even though the tree is called "sour cherry."
Life Cycle and Seeds
Growing new trees from the seeds can take a while. Seeds start to sprout after about 40 days, but it can take up to 200 days for all of them to grow. Insects sometimes try to eat the fruit and seeds. To help prevent this, people often soak the seeds in water to get rid of any insect larvae.
Many rainforest birds enjoy eating the fruit of the Syzygium corynanthum. These include colorful birds like the wompoo fruit dove and the catbird.
See also
In Spanish: Syzygium corynanthum para niños
