Hairy white wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hairy white wattle |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
centrinervia
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The Hairy White Wattle (scientific name: Acacia centrinervia) is a type of shrub. It belongs to the large Acacia family, which includes many different kinds of wattles. This plant is native to parts of eastern Australia. It is also known as hairy white wattle because of its fuzzy leaves.
What the Hairy White Wattle Looks Like
This shrub can grow upright or in a bushy shape. It usually reaches a height of about 0.3 to 1 meter (about 1 to 3 feet).
Its leaves are actually not true leaves. They are called phyllodes. These phyllodes are green and have tiny hairs on them. They are straight and shaped like a narrow oval or a narrow spear.
Each phyllode is about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters (about 0.6 to 1 inch) long. They are also about 2 to 3 millimeters (about 0.08 to 0.12 inches) wide. You can easily see a clear line, called a midrib, running down the middle of each phyllode.
The Hairy White Wattle flowers in the springtime. This happens between August and November. Its flowers grow in small, round balls. Each flower ball is about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) across. These balls are bright yellow and contain about 20 tiny flowers.
How it Got its Name
The Hairy White Wattle was first officially described in 1927. Two botanists, Joseph Maiden and William Blakely, gave it its scientific name. They published their findings in a science journal.
For a short time, its name was changed to Racosperma centrinervium in 1987 by another botanist, Leslie Pedley. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group. This plant is very similar to another wattle called Acacia lineata.
Where the Hairy White Wattle Grows
This shrub is found in two separate areas in Australia. One group of these plants grows around Parkes in New South Wales. The other group is found close to the border between Queensland and New South Wales.
