Newry golden wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newry golden wattle |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
chrysotricha
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| Where the Newry golden wattle lives (data from AVH) | |
The Acacia chrysotricha, also known as the Newry golden wattle or Bellinger River wattle, is a type of Acacia tree. It grows naturally in eastern Australia. This special tree was officially listed as an endangered species in 2012. This means it is at high risk of disappearing from the world.
Contents
What Does the Newry Golden Wattle Look Like?
This tree usually grows to be about 6 to 21 meters (20 to 69 feet) tall. It has cracked bark that can be grey or reddish-brown. Its branches have small ridges and are covered in thick, soft hairs that can be golden, grey, or fawn.
Young leaves are very hairy and a bright golden color. The mature leaves are dark green on top and lighter underneath. Each leaf has 12 to 20 pairs of smaller leaflets, arranged along a central stem that is about 8 to 14 cm (3 to 5.5 inches) long.
Flowers and Seed Pods
The Newry golden wattle flowers between July and August. It produces beautiful golden flowers. Its flowers grow in simple clusters from the leaf joints. Each round flower head has 15 to 30 golden flowers that are not tightly packed.
After flowering, usually in November, it grows thin, dark brown to black seed pods. These pods are 3 to 10 cm (1.2 to 3.9 inches) long and 4 to 6 mm (0.16 to 0.24 inches) wide. They are covered with short, whitish or brown hairs, about 2 mm (0.08 inches) long. This tree doesn't live very long. It needs fire to help its seeds sprout and grow.
Where Does the Newry Golden Wattle Live?
This wattle tree is only found in a small area in the northeastern part of New South Wales, Australia. It lives specifically in the Brierfield-Newry State Forest region. You can often find it growing in steep, narrow valleys. It prefers soils that are based on quartzite.
It grows as part of tall, open forest communities. Sometimes, it can also be found in rainforest communities, growing as a smaller plant under the taller trees.
Specific Locations
The Newry golden wattle is known from two main places within the Jaaningga Nature Reserve. About 1,200 individual trees have been counted there. There are also two much smaller groups of trees, with about 30 individuals, near the Gladstone State Forest. All these known trees live in a total area of about 25 square kilometers (9.7 square miles).
