Giant water gum Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Giant water gum

Syzygium francisii at Booyong Flora Reserve, Australia. (Black object is a back pack)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Syzygium
Species:	francisii
Synonyms
Eugenia francisii F.M.Bailey

The Syzygium francisii is a special tree that grows naturally in Australia. You can find it along the eastern coast, from Morisset, New South Wales in the south up to Gladstone, Queensland in the north. People often call this tree by other names like giant water gum, rose satinash, or Francis water gum. It loves to grow in rainforest areas where the soil is rich, often on volcanic rock or fertile alluvial soils (which are soils left behind by rivers).

You can see some great examples of Syzygium francisii trees at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. There's also a well-known one right at the start of the Mount Warning walking track in northern New South Wales.

What Does the Rose Satinash Look Like?
- Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit
- Life Cycle: Fruit and Seeds
Gallery
See also

What Does the Rose Satinash Look Like?

The Syzygium francisii is a medium to large tree. It can grow very tall, sometimes over 30 metres high, which is like a 10-story building! Its trunk can also become quite wide. The top part of the tree, called the crown, looks dark and thick.

The bark of this tree is a reddish-light brown colour and feels scaly. It has little dips where pieces of bark have fallen off. At the bottom of the tree, you might see large, flat supports called buttresses that help the tree stand strong.

Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit

The leaves of the Syzygium francisii grow in pairs, one on each side of the stem. They are simple, meaning they are not divided into smaller leaflets. Each leaf is about 4 to 8 centimetres long and has a long, pointy tip. The edges of the leaves are often a bit wavy. When new leaves grow, they often have a pretty pink colour.

The flowers are white and grow in clusters called panicles. They are quite small, less than 6 millimetres long. You can usually see these flowers between September and December.

Life Cycle: Fruit and Seeds

The fruit of the Syzygium francisii ripens from January to April. It's a flat, round berry, which is a common shape for many Syzygium trees. The fruit changes colour from a pale blue to a lovely lilac or purple. Even though it looks nice, the fruit's flesh is dry and doesn't taste very good to humans.

Getting new Syzygium francisii trees to grow from seeds is quite easy and fast. The seeds can start to sprout in about 20 days. It's a good idea to soak the seeds in water before planting them. This helps to get rid of any tiny insect larvae that might be hiding inside. Many different kinds of rainforest birds enjoy eating the fruit of this tree, helping to spread its seeds.