Acacia conniana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia conniana |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
conniana
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia conniana is a special kind of shrub that belongs to the Acacia family, also known as wattles. It grows naturally only in a specific part of the southern coast of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
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What Does Acacia conniana Look Like?
This bushy shrub usually grows to be about 1.2 to 6 metres (4 to 20 ft) tall. It often looks very dense and full. Its bark is dark reddish-brown to grey and has long cracks, especially near the bottom of its main stems.
The branches of this plant are smooth (this is what glabrous means). Their new tips are often sticky because of a natural resin. Like most Acacia species, it doesn't have true leaves. Instead, it has phyllodes, which are flattened leaf stems that act like leaves.
Phyllodes and Flowers
The green phyllodes grow upwards and are usually 7 to 16 centimetres (2.8 to 6.3 in) long. They are 3 to 12 millimetres (0.12 to 0.47 in) wide and have a very curved tip. These phyllodes are thin but tough (coriaceous). They have one main vein that stands out, plus two other slightly less noticeable veins.
Acacia conniana blooms from September to November. It produces bright yellow flowers. These flowers grow in cylinder-shaped spikes, which are found on short branches near the main stems. The spikes are 1 to 2.5 centimetres (0.39 to 0.98 in) long and are packed tightly with golden flowers.
Seed Pods
After the flowers, seed pods start to form. These pods are long and thin, with bumps over each seed. The pods are smooth (glabrous) and can be tough or slightly brittle (coriaceous to thinly crustaceous). They can grow up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long and are about 4 millimetres (0.16 in) wide. The seeds inside are about 5 millimetres (0.20 in) long and have a small, closed mark called an areole.
How Was Acacia conniana Named?
The plant was first officially described by a botanist named Bruce Maslin in 1985. This description was part of his work published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley changed its name to Racosperma connianum. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group. Sometimes, this plant has also been called Acacia cognata or Acacia acuminata var. latifolia. It is closely related to other wattle species like Acacia doratoxylon and Acacia lasiocalyx.
Where Does Acacia conniana Grow?
This wattle plant grows naturally along the southern coast of the Goldfields-Esperance region in Western Australia. You can find it from the east of Esperance, specifically at Cape Le Grand National Park, all the way to the east of Cape Arid National Park near Israelite Bay.
It often grows among large granite rocks in shallow, rocky soils. There are also a few separate groups of these plants found around Pingelly. You can also spot Acacia conniana on some islands in the Recherche Archipelago, such as Middle Island and Mondrain Island.
