Acacia amblyophylla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia amblyophylla |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
amblyophylla
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia amblyophylla is a type of shrub, also known as a Wattle, that belongs to the Acacia plant family. It grows naturally along the west coast of Western Australia.
About the Acacia amblyophylla
The Acacia amblyophylla is a bushy plant that can grow from about 1 to 4 meters (3 to 13 feet) tall. Its branches are smooth and hold special leaf-like structures called phyllodes. These phyllodes are thin and green, shaped a bit like a spear, and slightly curved. They are usually between 5 to 12 centimeters (2 to 5 inches) long and 6 to 14 millimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) wide.
This Wattle blooms from August to September, showing off bright yellow flowers. The flowers grow in clusters, like small bunches, that are about 1 to 3.5 centimeters (0.4 to 1.4 inches) long. Each cluster has round flower-heads, and each head is made up of about 25 pale golden flowers.
After the flowers, dark-brown, smooth seed pods grow. These pods are rounded over the seeds inside and can be up to 13 centimeters (5 inches) long and 9 to 11 millimeters (0.35 to 0.43 inches) wide. The seeds inside are shiny black and measure about 6 to 7 millimeters (0.24 to 0.28 inches) long and 5 to 6 millimeters (0.20 to 0.24 inches) wide.
How it is Classified
Plants are given scientific names and grouped together based on their features. This is called taxonomy. The Acacia amblyophylla was first officially described in 1882 by a botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He wrote about it in a publication called Definitions of some new Australian plants.
Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley changed its name to Racosperma amblyophyllum. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group. Acacia amblyophylla looks quite similar to another Wattle called Acacia microbotrya, which grows further south in Australia.
The very first plant specimen used to describe this species was collected by von Mueller in 1877 from Shark Bay.
Where it Grows
This Wattle naturally grows in an area near Shark Bay in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. You can find it growing on limestone hills and along coastal sand dunes. It prefers sandy soils that contain a lot of calcium carbonate, which is a type of mineral found in things like shells and rocks.
