Stirling Range wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stirling Range wattle |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
awestoniana
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| Acacia awestoniana occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
The Stirling Range wattle (scientific name: Acacia awestoniana) is a special type of shrub. It belongs to the Acacia family, which is also known as wattles. This plant is a beautiful part of Australia's nature.
Contents
About the Stirling Range Wattle
This wattle is a spreading shrub or small tree. It usually grows to be about 2.4 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) tall. It can also spread out quite wide, up to 4 meters (13 feet) across.
What Does It Look Like?
The Stirling Range wattle has sticky branches, which means they are a bit "viscid." It produces bright yellow flowers. These flowers bloom during the spring months, from September to November.
Instead of typical leaves, this plant has what are called phyllodes. These are flattened leaf stems that look and act like leaves. They are shaped like wide ovals and are about 1.5 to 3 centimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) long. They are also about 11 to 22 millimeters (0.4 to 0.9 inches) wide.
Flowers and Seeds
The flowers grow in small, round clusters called inflorescences. Each flower head is about 5 to 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) wide. Inside these heads, there are many tiny, golden flowers, usually between 54 and 60 of them!
After the flowers, the plant forms seed pods. These pods are mostly straight and narrow, like small beans. They are about 2.2 centimeters (0.9 inches) long and 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. Inside these pods, you'll find shiny, brown seeds that are shaped like small ovals.
Where the Wattle Grows
The Stirling Range wattle is found in a small part of Western Australia. This area is known as the Great Southern region.
Its Natural Home
You can find this plant growing on the lower parts of hills, on flat ground, and near water. It prefers to grow in soils that are a mix of loam (rich soil) or sandy clay.
A Rare Plant
This special wattle only grows in a small area within the Stirling Range National Park. It's quite rare, with fewer than 1,000 individual plants known to exist.
It often grows alongside other trees in Eucalyptus woodlands. Some of the trees it shares its home with include Eucalyptus wandoo, Eucalyptus redacta, and another wattle called Acacia pulchella.
