Hairy sandstone wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hairy sandstone wattle |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
anserina
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The Acacia anserina, also known as the hairy sandstone wattle, is a special kind of shrub. It belongs to the Acacia family, which is famous for its many different wattle plants. This plant is found only in a small part of Western Australia, in a place called the Kimberley region.
What Does the Hairy Sandstone Wattle Look Like?
This wattle is a shrub that usually grows to about 1 meter (3 feet) tall. It has an upright shape with branches that spread out. Its branches have ribs and are covered in thick hair.
Instead of regular leaves, like most Acacia plants, it has special parts called phyllodes. These phyllodes are flat, leaf-like stems that do the job of leaves. They are always green and have a wide, oval shape. They are also hairy and measure about 3 to 6 millimeters long and 2.5 to 4 millimeters wide. You can see many faint lines running along them.
When the hairy sandstone wattle blooms, it produces simple inflorescences. These are clusters of flowers that form round heads. Each flower head has 17 to 25 light golden flowers. After the flowers bloom, flat, narrow, reddish-brown seed pods grow. These pods are about 4 to 5 millimeters long.
How Was This Wattle Named?
The hairy sandstone wattle was officially described and named in 2013. Three botanists, Bruce Maslin, Matthew David Barrett, and Russell Lindsay Barrett, gave it its scientific name. They wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia.
Where Does the Hairy Sandstone Wattle Grow?
This unique wattle only grows in a very small area. You can find it in the Princess May Range, which is part of the west Kimberley region. It prefers gentle slopes found under sandstone ridges. It often grows in dense groups of plants that are protected from bushfires.
