Acacia ayersiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia ayersiana |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
|
| Species: |
ayersiana
|
 |
|
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia ayersiana is a special plant found in the dry, desert-like areas of Australia. It's a type of wattle tree or bush.
What it Looks Like
This plant can grow as a shrub (a bushy plant) or a small tree. It can reach up to 10 meters (about 33 feet) tall. Its leaves, which are actually called phyllodes, are a pretty blue-grey color.
The plant has bright yellow flowers. These usually bloom from September to October. Its small branches are covered with tiny white hairs. New growth on the branches might have reddish-brown ribs with red hairs.
Like many Acacia plants, Acacia ayersiana has phyllodes instead of true leaves. These phyllodes are shaped like a wide spear. They can be straight or slightly curved. They are usually between 2.5 and 8.5 centimeters (about 1 to 3.3 inches) long. They are also about 3 to 10 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.4 inches) wide. You can see thick lines, called nerves, running along them.
The flowers grow in simple spikes. These spikes are about 10 to 30 millimeters (about 0.4 to 1.2 inches) long. They grow by themselves where the leaves meet the stem. After the flowers, flat, brown seed pods form. These pods are straight and oblong. They can be up to 3.5 centimeters (about 1.4 inches) long and 7 to 12 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.5 inches) wide. Inside the pods, the seeds are arranged sideways. Each seed is oblong, up to 6 millimeters (about 0.2 inches) long and 3 millimeters (about 0.1 inches) wide. They have a white aril, which is a fleshy covering.
Plant Family and Naming
A scientist named John Maconochie first officially described Acacia ayersiana in 1978. He based his description on a plant sample he collected in 1930. He found it near Uluru, which used to be called Ayers Rock. That's where the plant gets its name, ayersiana.
This plant is closely related to another well-known Australian plant called A. aneura, or Mulga.
There are also two different types, or varieties, of Acacia ayersiana:
- A. a. var. ayersiana
- A. a. var. latifolia
Where it Grows
Acacia ayersiana is found in many dry and semi-dry parts of Australia. You can see it in Western Australia, South Australia, and the southern areas of the Northern Territory.
It usually grows in red sandy or loamy soils. You might often find it along creek beds or in the low areas between dunes (sand hills).
