Alcock's wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alcock's wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
alcockii
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Alcock's wattle (scientific name: Acacia alcockii) is a type of shrub. It belongs to the large Acacia plant family, which is also known as wattles. This special shrub is found only in South Australia. When a plant is found only in one specific area, it's called endemic.
About Alcock's Wattle
Alcock's wattle is a bushy shrub that can grow up to 3 meters (about 10 feet) tall. Its branches are smooth and have a dark reddish color.
What Does It Look Like?
- Leaves: Instead of true leaves, this wattle has flat, leaf-like structures called phyllodes. They are thin and green, shaped like a narrow oval or a spear. Each phyllode is usually 6 to 9 centimeters (about 2.4 to 3.5 inches) long and 8 to 21 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.8 inches) wide.
- Flowers: The plant produces groups of small, pale yellow flowers. These flowers grow in round clusters, with each cluster having 25 to 40 individual flowers. They appear on stalks that branch out.
- Seed Pods: After the flowers bloom, flat, straight seed pods form. These pods are oblong or narrowly oblong, growing up to 9 centimeters (about 3.5 inches) long and 8 to 17 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.7 inches) wide.
- Seeds: Inside the pods are dull black seeds. They are oblong to elliptic in shape and measure about 5 to 6 millimeters (about 0.2 inches) long.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The scientific name alcockii honors C.R. Alcock. He was a plant collector who found many plant samples on the Eyre Peninsula. He was the first person to collect a sample of Acacia alcockii.
Where Does It Grow?
Alcock's wattle is found in the southern parts of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. You can see it along the southwest coast between Mount Dutton and Mount Drummond. On the southeast coast, it grows near Port Lincoln and in the Lincoln National Park. This shrub prefers sandy soils that are often found over limestone. Sometimes, it can also grow in thin soils over granite rocks.
