Acacia cassicula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia cassicula |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
cassicula
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia cassicula is a type of shrub. It belongs to the Acacia family, also known as wattles. This plant only grows naturally in a specific part of southwestern Australia. It is found nowhere else in the world.
What it Looks Like
This spreading shrub usually grows between 1 to 2.5 metres (3 to 8 ft) tall. Its small branches can be smooth or have a few fine hairs.
Like most Acacia plants, it doesn't have true leaves. Instead, it has special flattened stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes are usually smooth and feel a bit like thin leather. They are evergreen, meaning they stay green all year.
The phyllodes are often tilted and a bit uneven in shape. They look like a stretched oval, measuring about 1.2 to 2.2 cm (0.47 to 0.87 in) long and 4 to 8 mm (0.16 to 0.31 in) wide. Each phyllode has two main veins running along its length.
The Acacia cassicula blooms from August to September. During this time, it produces bright yellow flowers. These flowers grow in simple, round clusters called flower-heads. Each flower-head is about 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 in) across and contains 22 to 30 tiny flowers. They grow one by one where the phyllode meets the stem.
After the flowers, the plant grows seed pods. These pods are smooth and feel like paper. They are long and thin, often curving or coiling around once or twice. The pods can be up to 7 cm (2.8 in) long and 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 in) wide. They contain a lot of sticky resin. Inside the pods are shiny, dark brown seeds. Each seed is shaped like a small oval and measures about 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 in) long.
Where it Grows
This plant is native to the Wheatbelt and Great Southern areas of Western Australia. It often grows on gently rolling plains. You can find it in sandy loam soils, which are a mix of sand, silt, and clay.
The Acacia cassicula grows in separate, scattered patches. These patches stretch from around Wagin in the northwest to Jerramungup in the southeast. It prefers soils that come from granite rock. It is often found as part of the Eucalyptus occidentalis woodland communities.
