Acacia argyrotricha facts for kids

Acacia argyrotricha is a type of shrub. It belongs to the Acacia family, which is known for its many different species. This particular plant is special because it grows only in a small part of northeastern Australia. When a plant or animal is found only in one specific area, it's called endemic.

About the Plant

The Acacia argyrotricha shrub usually grows to about 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) tall. It has a wide, spreading shape. Its branches are a bit angular and covered in tiny, pressed-down hairs.

Like most Acacia plants, it doesn't have regular leaves. Instead, it has what are called phyllodes. These are like flattened leaf stems that do the job of leaves. The phyllodes of this plant are thick and evergreen. They are shaped like a flat line, either straight or slightly curved like a sickle.

Phyllodes and Flowers

These phyllodes are about 10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 inches) long. They are also very narrow, only about 1 to 1.8 millimeters wide. They have many small lines or stripes running along them.

This plant blooms between September and October. Its inflorescences, which are groups of flowers, grow in pairs. These pairs appear on short stems coming from the plant's main branches. The flower-heads are round and contain 30 to 40 deep yellow flowers.

Seed Pods

In December, the plant starts to produce its seed pods. These pods are long and thin, and they bulge slightly over each seed inside. The pods can grow up to 7.5 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. They are about 2.5 millimeters wide.

The seeds inside the pods are arranged lengthwise. They have an oblong shape, meaning they are longer than they are wide. Each seed is about 3 to 4 millimeters long and 1.7 to 2 millimeters wide. At one end of each seed, there is a cup-shaped attachment called an aril.

Plant Classification

The Acacia argyrotricha was first officially described by a botanist named Leslie Pedley. This happened in 1999. He wrote about it in a scientific paper called Notes on Acacia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) chiefly from northern Australia. This paper was published in a journal called Austrobaileya.

Later, in 2003, Pedley changed its classification to Racosperma argyrotrichum. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group.

Where It Grows

This plant is native to a small area in Queensland, Australia. You can find it in the Darling Downs district. Specifically, it grows in the Bracker State Forest, which is south of a town called Inglewood.

It prefers to grow in sandy soils. It is often found as part of Eucalyptus woodland communities. This means it grows alongside different types of Eucalyptus trees.