Acacia cavealis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia cavealis |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
cavealis
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia cavealis is a special kind of shrub that belongs to the Acacia family. It's a plant that grows only in a specific area along the west coast of Australia. This means it's endemic to that region, you won't find it growing naturally anywhere else in the world!
What Does It Look Like?
The Acacia cavealis is an open, spreading shrub. It usually grows to be about 0.3 to 0.7 metres (1 to 2 ft) tall. Its small branches, called branchlets, are often covered in tangled hairs. Sometimes, these hairs are even mixed with a sticky resin, making them look a bit like a spider's web.
These branchlets also have small, lasting leaf-like parts called stipules. They are shaped like narrow triangles and can be up to 2.2 mm (0.087 in) long.
Like many Acacia plants, this shrub doesn't have typical leaves. Instead, it has special flattened stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes do the job of leaves. They are stiff and always green. They grow in groups of two to four at each point on the stem. Each phyllode is straight and flat, measuring about 1.5 to 3.5 cm (0.59 to 1.38 in) long. They have eight veins, with three raised veins on each side.
When it's time to bloom, usually from November to February, the Acacia cavealis produces bright yellow flowers.
Where Does It Grow?
This unique Acacia plant naturally grows in the Wheatbelt and Mid West areas of Western Australia. You can often find it on low hills and sandy plains, growing in sandy soil.
It lives in coastal areas, stretching from the Zuytdorp Cliffs in the north down to Watheroo in the south. It can also be found about 30 km (19 mi) inland. This shrub is usually part of a low, open woodland, often growing near Banksia prionotes. It can also be found in shrubland and heath communities.
