Acacia adnata facts for kids

Acacia adnata is a type of shrub that belongs to the Acacia family, also known as wattles. This plant is special because it only grows naturally in Western Australia.

About This Plant

This Acacia is an upright shrub. It has green, flattened leaf-like parts called phyllodes. These phyllodes are about 4 to 5 millimetres (0.157 to 0.197 in) long and 2 to 3 mm (0.079 to 0.118 in) wide.

Its branches are round and slightly hairy. Small, lasting parts called stipules are found at the base of the leaves. These stipules are about 1 to 2.5 mm (0.039 to 0.098 in) long.

The phyllodes are stiff and have a pointed tip. They are shaped a bit like a rectangle or an oval, but not perfectly even on both sides. Each phyllode has three to four clear veins.

When the plant flowers, it produces simple, round, yellow flower clusters. After flowering, these turn into straight, brown seed pods. The pods are about 4 mm (0.157 in) wide and can grow up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long. Inside the pods are rounded, helmet-shaped seeds. These seeds are spotted and plump, measuring about 2.5 mm (0.098 in) long.

How It Was Named

A botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller first officially described this plant in 1882. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. He wrote about it in a publication called Remarks on Australian Acacias.

Later, in 2003, the plant was briefly reclassified and given a different scientific name, Racosperma adnatum. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group, which is its current classification.

Where It Grows

Acacia adnata is an endemic plant. This means it only grows naturally in one specific area and nowhere else in the world. For Acacia adnata, this special place is a small area around the Irwin River in the Mid West region of Western Australia.