Acacia costata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia costata |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
costata
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia costata is a type of shrub that belongs to the Acacia family. It is special because it only grows naturally in Western Australia. This means it is "endemic" to that area.
About the Plant
This plant is a shrub that spreads out and has prickly parts. It usually grows to be about 0.2 to 0.5 meters (or 0.7 to 1.6 feet) tall.
Its small branches, called branchlets, have ridges like ribs. They can be hairy or even woolly. At the base of the leaves, there are tiny leaf-like parts called stipules, which are about 1.5 to 3 millimeters long.
Instead of true leaves, this plant has special flattened stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes are green, stiff, and have a strong smell. They are shaped like a narrow spearhead (this is called lanceolate) and can be straight or slightly curved.
The phyllodes are usually 6 to 15 millimeters long and 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters wide. They have five visible lines, or nerves, and a clear main line in the middle, called a midrib.
Acacia costata blooms from May to June. During this time, it produces bright yellow flowers. The flowers grow in simple, round clusters called flower-heads. Each flower-head has about 13 to 19 golden flowers that are not tightly packed together. These flower-heads appear by themselves where the leaves meet the stem (this area is called the axil).
After the flowers, the plant forms seed pods. These pods are curved and have a dark red-brown color. They can grow up to 5 centimeters long and are about 4 to 4.5 millimeters wide.
Plant Names and History
The plant was first officially described by a botanist named George Bentham in 1842. This description was part of a larger work by William Jackson Hooker called Notes on Mimoseae, with a synopsis of species. It was published in the London Journal of Botany.
Sometimes, people confuse Acacia costata with another similar plant called Acacia acutata.
Where It Grows
Acacia costata naturally grows along the west coast of Western Australia. You can find it in the Wheatbelt region. Its range stretches from Dandaragan in the north down to Mundaring in the south. It also reaches Dowerin in the east.
This plant usually grows on rocky ridges made of a type of soil called laterite, or on sandy plains. It prefers sandy or gravelly soils. It is often found as part of heathland communities, which are areas with low-growing shrubs and plants.
