Glowing wattle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Glowing wattle
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Clade:	Mimosoideae
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	A. celastrifolia
Binomial name
Acacia celastrifolia Benth.
Occurrence data from AVH
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The Acacia celastrifolia, also known as the glowing wattle, is a type of shrub or small tree. It belongs to the large Acacia plant family and is found naturally in Western Australia.

What is the Glowing Wattle?

The glowing wattle is usually a bushy shrub or a small tree. It typically grows to be about 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) tall.

Its Unique Leaves

This plant has special leaf-like structures called phyllodes. These phyllodes are not true leaves but are flattened leaf stalks that do the job of leaves. They are usually 2 to 6 centimeters (0.8 to 2.4 inches) long and 5 to 25 millimeters (0.2 to 1 inch) wide. They have a clear central vein and a strong edge. Their shape can be like an upside-down egg, a spear, or an oval.

Flowers and Seeds

The glowing wattle blooms with bright yellow flowers between April and August. Its flowers grow in groups called inflorescences. These groups are like a long cluster (a raceme) with 10 to 20 small, round flower heads. Each flower head is about 3 to 12 centimeters (1.2 to 4.7 inches) long and contains two to three shiny golden flowers.

After the flowers, the plant forms straight or slightly curved seed pods. These pods are woody and can be up to 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. Inside the pods are glossy brown seeds, each about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.2 inches) long.

Where Does it Grow?

The glowing wattle is native to the South West and Wheatbelt regions of Western Australia.

It likes to grow in sandy or gravelly soils that come from laterite or granite rocks. You can often find it in woodlands or in a type of shrubland called kwongan. It also grows on laterite hills, often as part of Eucalyptus forests, especially where Eucalyptus accedens trees are found.

Illustration of Acacia celastrifolia

Related Plants

The Acacia celastrifolia is part of a group of plants called the Acacia myrtifolia group. It is also closely related to another wattle species called Acacia clydonophora.