Xylosma terrae-reginae facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Xylosma terrae-reginae
Conservation status
Endangered (EPBC Act)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Salicaceae
Genus:	Xylosma
Species:	X. terrae-reginae
Binomial name
Xylosma terrae-reginae C.T.White & Sleumer

Xylosma terrae-reginae is a special tree found in the rainforests of eastern Australia. It often grows near the coast or in rainforest areas that are a bit drier. You can find it from Ballina, New South Wales in the south up to Maryborough, Queensland in the north. This tree is currently listed as endangered, which means it's at risk of disappearing forever.

Because it's not very well known, Xylosma terrae-reginae doesn't have a common name. People usually just call it by its scientific genus name, Xylosma. The name Xylosma comes from a Greek word meaning "woody smell," like its relative Xylosma orbiculatum. The second part of its name, terrae-reginae, is Latin for "Queen's land," which refers to Queensland, where this tree mostly grows.

What Does Xylosma terrae-reginae Look Like?

This plant can be a small tree or a shrub, growing up to 15 metres (about 50 feet) tall. Its trunk is often not perfectly straight and has many branches starting low down. The bark is usually grey or light brown and feels quite smooth. You might see darker spots called lenticels on the bark. Even the smaller branches are light brown and have these noticeable lenticels. You can also see where old leaves used to be on the branches.

Leaves of the Xylosma Tree

The leaves are usually 4 to 10 centimetres (about 1.5 to 4 inches) long. However, young leaves can be longer, up to 15 centimetres (about 6 inches). They are shaped like an oval or an egg. The top side of the leaves is a dark, shiny green. You might notice small bumps or glands at the base of the leaf, or on the leaf stalk. Sometimes, these glands are also found along the edges of the leaf. The green leaf stalks are about 5 to 7 millimetres (less than half an inch) long.

Flowers, Fruit, and Life Cycle

White flowers grow from the spots where the leaves meet the stem. They can appear in small groups or on short flower stalks. This tree usually blooms between April and June.

The fruit of Xylosma terrae-reginae is a small, red berry. It's about 8 to 10 millimetres (less than half an inch) wide. Up to four berries can grow together in a cluster, each on a very short stalk. Inside each berry, there are two to four pink or brown seeds. These seeds are tiny, only 2 to 3 millimetres (about one-tenth of an inch) across. The fruit ripens from January to April. If you plant the seeds, about 30% of them might sprout after six weeks.

Xylosma terrae-reginae grows in the rainforest at Brunswick Heads, Australia.