Barrier Range wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barrier Range wattle |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Barrier Range wattle | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
|
| Species: |
aemula
|
 |
|
| Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Acacia beckleri, also known as the Barrier Range wattle, is a type of plant. It belongs to the Acacia family, which is a large group of flowering plants. You can find it mostly in Australia, especially in the Australasia region.
This plant gets its name from Dr. Hermann Beckler. He was a botanist who explored with the Burke and Wills expedition way back in 1861. Dr. Beckler was the first person to collect a sample of this plant. He found it near the Barrier Range.
The common name, Barrier Range wattle, comes from the Barrier Range mountains. These mountains are located near Broken Hill in western New South Wales. Acacia beckleri looks a lot like other wattle plants. For example, it is similar to the notable wattle (A. notabilis) and the sword wattle (A. gladiformis).
Contents
What Does Barrier Range Wattle Look Like?
The Barrier Range wattle is a shrub that grows low to the ground. It usually reaches a height of 1 to 3 meters (about 3 to 10 feet). Its main stem and branches are a reddish-brown color.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are called phyllodes. They are shaped like a spear or a narrow oval. They can be straight or slightly curved. These leaves are green to pale green and are quite long, from 6 to 20 centimeters (about 2.5 to 8 inches). You can often see the main vein and other veins along the edges of the leaves.
The plant produces groups of flowers called inflorescences. There are usually 2 to 9 of these groups. Each group is a round cluster with up to 60 individual flowers. These flowers are a bright yellow color and are about 8 to 17 millimeters (0.3 to 0.7 inches) across.
Pods and Seeds
After flowering, the plant grows seed pods. These pods are straight and flat. They are mostly straight-sided but can sometimes be a little pinched between the seeds. The pods are 5 to 13 centimeters (about 2 to 5 inches) long and usually 5 to 6 millimeters (about 0.2 inches) wide. They feel like firm paper or thin leather.
Inside the pods, the seeds are arranged lengthwise. Each seed has a special stalk called a funicle that widens near the seed.
When Does It Flower?
The Barrier Range wattle typically flowers in June and August.
How Does It Grow?
You can grow new Barrier Range wattle plants from seeds. It is also likely that you can grow them from cuttings, which are small pieces of the plant.
