Blaxell's wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blaxell's wattle |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
blaxellii
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The Blaxell's wattle, also known as Acacia blaxellii, is a special type of shrub. It belongs to the plant group called Acacia. This wattle is found only in Western Australia, which means it is endemic there.
Blaxell's Wattle: What Does It Look Like?
This wattle is a bushy plant that spreads out. It usually grows to be about 0.3 to 1.2 meters (1 to 4 feet) tall. It can spread up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) wide. Its branches can be covered in fine hairs.
Instead of regular leaves, this plant has special flattened stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes grow upwards and are shaped like a narrow oval. They are thick and a bit fleshy. Each one is about 1 to 2.5 centimeters long and 3 to 5 millimeters wide. They don't have a very clear middle vein.
The Blaxell's wattle blooms with yellow flowers from August to September. Its tiny flower clusters are found on short stalks. Each flower cluster is round, like a small ball, about 3.5 to 4.5 millimeters across. These balls hold 17 to 31 bright golden flowers.
After the flowers, seed pods grow. These pods are thin and smooth. They have a wavy, S-like shape. Each pod is about 2 centimeters long and 3.5 to 4 millimeters wide. Inside, you'll find shiny black seeds. These seeds are shaped like a wide oval and are about 2 millimeters long.
How Was Blaxell's Wattle Named?
A scientist named Bruce Maslin first officially described this plant in 1999. He wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. His work helped us understand and name many Acacia species.
Where Does Blaxell's Wattle Grow?
This wattle grows in two separate areas of Western Australia. You can find it in the eastern part of the Wheatbelt and the western part of the Goldfields-Esperance region. It grows between Kondinin in the west and Norseman in the east.
It likes to grow on flat ground or on low, rocky hills. The plant prefers clay-loam soils. You often see it growing in areas with Eucalyptus trees or in scrubland where small trees and bushes grow. Most of these wattles are found about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Norseman, stretching south to Frank Hann National Park.
