White apple facts for kids

The Flakey-barked Satinash (scientific name: Syzygium forte) is a special tree. It is also known as the white apple, flaky-barked satinash, or brown satinash. This tree belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which includes plants like eucalyptus. You can find it growing naturally in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

About the Flakey-barked Satinash

The Flakey-barked Satinash is a unique tree from Australia. It has interesting features that help it survive in different places. This tree is important for both animals and people.

What Does It Look Like?

This tree usually grows to be 9 to 25 metres (30 to 82 ft) tall. That's as tall as a three to eight-story building! It has white flowers that bloom between September and January.

The trunk and main branches have bark that is brown to orange-brown. This bark often looks like paper and can peel off in flakes.

The leaves grow in pairs on opposite sides of the stem. They feel leathery and have an oval shape. Each leaf can be up to 14 centimetres (5.5 in) long and 8 cm (3.1 in) wide. They have a thick, pale line down the middle.

The white flowers grow in bunches. They have many white stamens, which are the parts that hold pollen. After the flowers, the tree grows round, fleshy fruits. These fruits are a dirty-white color and are about 6 centimetres (2 in) across.

Where Does It Grow?

You can find the Flakey-barked Satinash tree near rivers and streams. In Western Australia, it grows in the Kimberley area. There, it prefers soils that are over sandstone. It does not grow well in heavy clay soils.

This tree is very strong. It can handle strong winds from cyclones. It can also grow in salty areas, like near the coast.

It is also found in rainforests in the northern part of the Northern Territory. You can see it in the Cape York Peninsula and North East areas of Queensland. It even grows in New Guinea. It lives in places from beaches at sea level up to rainforests about 450 metres (1,476 ft) high.

Who Uses This Tree?

The fruits of the Flakey-barked Satinash are a favorite food for large birds called cassowaries. These birds help spread the tree's seeds.

People also use this tree. It makes a great shade tree for parks and gardens. It is also planted along streets.

The wood from this tree is strong and can be used for building. It is quite heavy, with a density of about 0.69 to 0.96 kg/L.

How Was It Named?

The first time this tree was officially described was in 1865. A botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller gave it the name Eugenia fortis.

Later, in 1983, another botanist named B. Hyland changed its name. He moved it to the Syzygium group of plants. This is why its full scientific name is Syzygium forte.

Different Kinds of Flakey-barked Satinash

There are two slightly different types, or subspecies, of the Flakey-barked Satinash:

• Syzygium forte subsp. forte
• Syzygium forte subsp. potamophilum