Terminalia bursarina facts for kids

The Bendee tree, also known by its scientific name Terminalia bursarina, is a special kind of tree found in the northern parts of Australia. It belongs to a plant family called Combretaceae, which includes many other trees and shrubs.

Discovering the Bendee Tree

The Bendee tree is a unique plant that grows naturally in Australia. It's known for its interesting look and where it chooses to live. Scientists gave it the name Terminalia bursarina.

What Does the Bendee Tree Look Like?

The Bendee tree usually stands tall, reaching up to about 8 meters (or 26 feet) high. It might look a bit "straggly," which means its branches can spread out in different directions. One cool thing about the Bendee tree is its bark. It has "deeply fissured bark," meaning it has lots of deep cracks and grooves, making it look very textured.

From June to September, the Bendee tree gets ready to show off its flowers. During these months, it "blooms," producing pretty white and yellow flowers. These flowers add a splash of color to the Australian landscape.

The Bendee tree is quite similar to another tree called Joolal (or Terminalia canescens). However, you can tell them apart because the Bendee tree has smaller leaves and smaller fruits compared to the Joolal tree.

Where Does the Bendee Tree Grow?

The Bendee tree is quite tough and can grow in some interesting places. You can often find it in "rock crevices," which are small cracks or openings in rocks. It also likes to grow in "river beds," which are the bottoms of rivers, especially when the water level is low.

This tree is mostly found in two main areas of Australia:

• The Kimberley region in Western Australia.
• The Northern Territory.

It prefers to grow in "sandy-stony soils," which means the ground is a mix of sand and small stones. These soils are often found over "sandstone," a type of rock that forms from sand. This shows how adaptable the Bendee tree is to its environment!