Acacia cretata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia cretata |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
cretata
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia cretata is a type of shrub or small tree found in northeastern Australia. It belongs to a large group of plants called Acacia, which are often known as wattles.
Contents
What Does Acacia cretata Look Like?
This shrub or tree can grow up to 8 m (26 ft) (about 26 feet) tall. It usually has one main stem and a rounded top. The bark is smooth and grey when the plant is young. As it gets older, the bark becomes rough and stringy.
Its branches are flat and strong. They are often a brownish-red color. Sometimes, they have a fine white powdery coating. Like most Acacia species, this plant has phyllodes instead of true leaves. Phyllodes are flattened leaf stems that act like leaves.
The Phyllodes
The phyllodes are tough and stay green all year. They are shaped like an oval or a narrow oval. They quickly narrow down into a wide base called a pulvinus. The phyllodes are flat and curved like a sickle. They are 7 to 14 cm (2.8 to 5.5 in) (about 3 to 5.5 inches) long. They are also 17 to 40 mm (0.67 to 1.57 in) (about 0.7 to 1.6 inches) wide. Each phyllode has a hooked tip and two or three clear main veins.
Flowers and Seed Pods
Acacia cretata blooms between July and September. It produces bright golden flowers. These flowers grow on long, cylinder-shaped spikes. Each flower spike can be 5.5 to 10 cm (2.2 to 3.9 in) (about 2 to 4 inches) long.
After the flowers, tough, smooth seed pods form. These pods are long and thin. They are raised over the seeds and squeezed between them. The pods are 6 to 10 cm (2.4 to 3.9 in) (about 2.4 to 4 inches) long. They are only about 3 mm (0.12 in) (0.1 inches) wide. Inside, the seeds are arranged lengthwise. The seeds are black and shaped like an oblong oval. They are 4 to 6 mm (0.16 to 0.24 in) (0.16 to 0.24 inches) long. They are about 1.8 to 2 mm (0.071 to 0.079 in) (0.07 to 0.08 inches) wide.
How Was Acacia cretata Named?
The plant was first officially described in 1969. A botanist named Leslie Pedley gave it its scientific name. He wrote about it in a paper called Notes on Acacia, chiefly from Queensland. Later, in 1987, Pedley changed its name to Racosperma cretatum. But in 2001, it was moved back to the Acacia group.
Where Does Acacia cretata Grow?
This plant is endemic to Queensland, Australia. This means it is only found naturally in Queensland. It grows along the Great Dividing Range. You can find it from around Moranbah in the north to near Mara in the south. It is very common on the Blackdown Tableland.
It likes to grow in areas with sandstone. It prefers sandy, gravelly, or loamy soils. You can often see it growing in open woodlands. These woodlands usually have Eucalyptus trees.
