Hill water gum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hill water gum |
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| Tristaniopsis collina at 1170 metres above sea level, Mount Royal, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tristaniopsis
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| Species: |
collina
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The hill water gum, also called hill kanuka, is a type of tree found in eastern Australia. Its scientific name is Tristaniopsis collina.
This tree grows naturally in a wide area. You can find it from Mount Gulaga in southern New South Wales all the way up to the McPherson Range near the Queensland border. It usually lives in rainforests, often on shallow soils high up in the mountains. Sometimes, though, you might spot it closer to the coast, like at Seal Rocks or Chatswood West.
The hill water gum looks a lot like its relative, the water gum (Tristaniopsis laurina). The main difference is where they grow. The water gum always grows near rivers or streams, while the hill water gum prefers drier, higher ground.
What the Hill Water Gum Looks Like
The hill water gum is a small to medium-sized tree. It can grow up to 35 meters (about 115 feet) tall. Its trunk can be as wide as 75 centimeters (about 30 inches). Unlike many trees, its trunk is often uneven, not perfectly round.
Bark and Branches
The bark of the hill water gum is usually grey or creamy in color. It is very thin and feels papery. Bits of the bark can easily come off when you touch it. The smaller branches are often purple and have an angular shape when you look at them closely.
Leaves
The leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the branches. They are simple, meaning each leaf is a single blade. They are usually about 5 to 8 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) long. Each leaf has a long, thin tip. If you hold a leaf up to the light, you'll see many tiny oil dots of different sizes. The main vein (midrib) on the top of the leaf looks sunken, but it sticks out on the underside.
Flowers and Fruit
The hill water gum produces yellow flowers. These flowers grow in clusters called cymes. You can usually see them blooming from November to January.
After the flowers, the tree forms a dry capsule as its fruit. These fruits ripen between April and July. The fruit of the hill water gum looks almost exactly like the fruit of the water gum. Inside the fruit are winged seeds. Each seed is about 5 millimeters long and 2 millimeters wide.
See also
In Spanish: Tristaniopsis collina para niños
