hornbeam [Rockhampton Red]

A deciduous tree, with grey bark and a densely branched, ovoid crown which can reach a height of up to 15m (50ft) when mature. It bears bright green foliage that turns to fiery reds and oranges in autumn. It can often hold its dead, brown leaves through the winter, before shedding them in spring when it comes into growth once more. The tree produces separate, yellow-green male and female catkins, the males appearing just before the females in March to April. The female flowers after fertilisation, develop into hop-like clusters in late summer to autumn, containing winged seeds which disperse on the wind when ripe