Acacia brachycarpa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia brachycarpa |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
brachycarpa
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| Acacia brachycarpa occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
Acacia brachycarpa is a type of shrub, a small woody plant, that belongs to the Acacia family. It is found only in Queensland, Australia. This plant is special because it grows naturally only in this area.
Contents
What Does Acacia brachycarpa Look Like?
This shrub is usually quite small and bushy. It often grows to be less than 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) tall. Its branches spread out a lot, making it look compact.
Leaves and Branches
The small branches have tiny hairs on them. They also have very small leaf-like parts called stipules, which are only about 1 millimeter long. The leaves of this plant are not typical leaves; they are actually flattened leaf stalks called phyllodes. These phyllodes are stiff and have a pointed tip. They are long and narrow, like a line or a thin triangle. Each phyllode is about 9 to 15 millimeters long and only about 1 millimeter wide. They have a clear line down the middle on both sides.
Flowers and Seeds
The flowers of Acacia brachycarpa grow in small, round clusters. Each cluster has about 8 to 18 bright lemon-yellow flowers. These flower clusters grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. After the flowers bloom, blackish, smooth seed pods form. These pods are about 8 to 20 millimeters long and 3 to 4 millimeters wide. Inside each pod, you will find one to three oblong (oval-shaped) seeds.
How Was It Discovered?
A botanist named Leslie Pedley first officially described this plant in 1969. He wrote about it in a publication called Notes on Acacia, chiefly from Queensland. Later, in 1987, Pedley changed its name to Racosperma brachycarpum. But then, in 2001, it was moved back into the Acacia group, which is its current name.
Where Does It Grow?
Acacia brachycarpa grows in different parts of southeastern Queensland. You can find it from Stanthorpe in the south all the way up to Blackdown Tableland National Park in the north. It prefers rocky, sandy soils, especially those made of sandstone. This shrub is often found growing in open woodlands where Eucalyptus trees are common.
