Acacia arafurica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia arafurica |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
arafurica
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia arafurica is a type of shrub that belongs to the Acacia plant family. It is found only in the Northern Territory, Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
What it Looks Like
Acacia arafurica can grow as a shrub or a small tree, reaching up to 4 meters (about 13 feet) tall. Its branches are round and can be a little hairy.
The leaves of this plant are not typical leaves; they are called phyllodes. These phyllodes are shaped like an uneven oval or a diamond.
This plant blooms between April and July. It produces flower spikes that are golden in color. These spikes are about 10 to 21 millimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long and 4 to 5.5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.22 inches) wide.
After the flowers, long, straight seed pods grow. They look a bit like a string of beads. These pods are papery and hairy, turning brown when they dry. They are usually 6.5 to 10.5 centimeters (2.6 to 4.1 inches) long. Inside the pods, the brown seeds are lined up lengthwise and are about 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.28 inches) long.
You can tell Acacia arafurica apart from a similar plant, A. sublanata, because its phyllodes are thicker and larger. Also, its flower stalks are longer, and its flowers grow in spikes.
Plant History
Scientists Mary Tindale and Phillip Kodela first officially described Acacia arafurica in 1992. They wrote about it in a scientific journal called Telpoea.
Later, in 2003, another scientist named Leslie Pedley briefly moved this plant into a different group called Racosperma. However, by 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group, where it remains today.
Where it Grows
This plant is found in the northern part of Australia's Northern Territory. You can see it from Arnhem Land all the way to the Cobourg Peninsula.
It likes to grow in sandy, wet areas. This includes places like swampy coastal river flats or near streams in rocky gorge areas. Sometimes, it can also be found growing in open forests.
Name Meaning
The name arafurica comes from the Arafura Sea. This sea is located to the north of where Acacia arafurica grows.
Images for kids
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Occurrence data from AVH
