Acacia acanthaster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia acanthaster |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
acanthaster
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia acanthaster is a special kind of shrub, like a small bush, that belongs to the Acacia family. It's found only in certain parts of Western Australia, mainly in the Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions.
About the Acacia Acanthaster
What it Looks Like
This shrub usually grows low to the ground, spreading out. It can be about 0.1 to 0.6 meters (around 4 inches to 2 feet) tall. It can also spread out to about 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) wide. The plant has small, flat, and narrow leaf-like structures called phyllodes. These are about 3 to 8 millimeters long and less than 1 millimeter wide.
From August to October, the plant gets pretty yellow flowers. These flowers grow in small, round clusters. Each cluster is about 3 to 3.5 millimeters across. Each cluster has 18 to 27 tiny flowers. After the flowers, the plant forms seed pods. These pods are curved or loosely coiled. They are about 35 millimeters long and 2 millimeters wide. Inside, they hold small, oval seeds.
Where it Grows
You can find Acacia acanthaster growing in areas with Eucalyptus trees. It also grows in shrublands, which are areas with many small bushes. This plant is found in different spots, mainly between Dumbleyung, Lake King, and Narembeen. It likes to grow in sandy soil, sandy clay, or soil that comes from granite rocks.
How it Was Discovered
A botanist, who is a scientist who studies plants, named Bruce Maslin first officially described this species. He wrote about it in 1999. His description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia. The plant was also once known by another name, Racosperma acanthaster.
