Bulga wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bulga wattle |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
bulgaensis
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| Acacia bulgaensis occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
Acacia bulgaensis is a special kind of shrub or small tree. It belongs to a big group of plants called Acacia, which are often known as wattles in Australia. This plant grows naturally only in eastern Australia.
What it Looks Like
This plant usually grows as a shrub or a tree. It can reach a height of about 1.5 to 8 meters (5 to 26 feet). Its bark can be grey-brown, dark brown, or reddish-brown. The bark often peels off in small flakes.
Its young branches are smooth and light brown to reddish-brown. They have a slightly triangular shape. Like most Acacia plants, it doesn't have regular leaves. Instead, it has what are called phyllodes. These are flattened leaf stems that act like leaves.
The phyllodes are always green and usually long and narrow. They are mostly straight or slightly curved. These smooth phyllodes are about 3.5 to 10 centimeters (1.4 to 4 inches) long. They are also 7 to 23 millimeters (0.3 to 0.9 inches) wide. Each phyllode has three faint veins running along its length.
The plant blooms with yellow flowers between September and March. Its flowers grow in cylinder-shaped clusters. These clusters are usually found in pairs where the leaves meet the stem. Each cluster is about 3.2 to 5 centimeters (1.3 to 2 inches) long. They are packed with bright golden yellow flowers.
After the flowers, long, thin seed pods grow. They look a bit like a string of beads. These pods are 2 to 9.5 centimeters (0.8 to 3.7 inches) long and 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. They have fine lines on them. Inside, the seeds are dark brown to black. Each seed is about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.2 inches) long.
Where it Lives
Acacia bulgaensis is found only in one specific area. It grows in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia. It is quite common in this area.
You can find it around towns like Bulga, Milbrodale, and Broke. It usually grows on hills made of sandstone or shale rock. Often, it is part of open Eucalyptus forests. The very first plant specimen used to describe this species was collected near Bulga.
