Acacia benthamii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia benthamii |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
benthamii
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia benthamii is a type of shrub, which is a woody plant smaller than a tree. It belongs to the Acacia plant family. This shrub grows naturally along the west coast of Western Australia. You can find it in the Perth metropolitan region and the Wheatbelt area.
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What is Acacia benthamii Like?
This shrub usually grows to be about 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) tall. Its branches are ribbed and smooth, meaning they don't have hairs. When new shoots appear, they are slightly woolly. The plant has small, temporary leaf-like parts called stipules, which are about 1.5 to 2 millimeters long.
The leaves of Acacia benthamii are actually not true leaves but flattened leaf stalks called phyllodes. They are green, pointed at both ends, and often slightly uneven in shape. Each phyllode is about 2 to 4.5 centimeters long and 2 to 4 millimeters wide. They have two or three main veins on each side.
This shrub blooms with yellow flowers from August to September. The flowers grow in round clusters, like small balls, about 5 millimeters across. Each cluster contains 27 to 35 bright golden flowers.
How Acacia benthamii Got its Name
The scientific name for this plant, Acacia benthamii, was first officially described by a botanist named Carl Meissner. He wrote about it in 1844 in a book called Plantae Preissianae.
Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley changed its name to Racosperma benthamii. However, in 2006, it was changed back to its original name, Acacia benthamii.
This plant is closely related to another species called Acacia sessilis. It also looks very similar to Acacia cochlearis.
Why is it Called benthamii?
The second part of the plant's scientific name, benthamii, was chosen to honor a famous person. It was named after George Bentham, who was a well-known botanist.
Where Acacia benthamii Grows
Acacia benthamii only grows in a specific part of Western Australia. This means it is "endemic" to that area. You can find it from around Dandaragan in the north down to Subiaco in the south. It often grows on rocky areas made of limestone.
