Dawson's wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dawson's wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
dawsonii
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia dawsonii, often called Dawson's wattle, poverty wattle, or mitta wattle, is a type of shrub. It belongs to the Acacia family, which includes many well-known wattle plants. You can find this shrub growing along parts of the eastern coast of Australia.
Contents
Discovering Dawson's Wattle
What Does Dawson's Wattle Look Like?
This wattle is an upright shrub that usually grows between 0.5 and 4 meters (about 1.5 to 13 feet) tall. Its branches are covered with small hairs and have sticky, raised lines.
Instead of regular leaves, Dawson's wattle has special leaf-like structures called phyllodes. These phyllodes are evergreen, meaning they stay green all year. They are mostly straight or slightly curved and have a long, narrow shape. Each phyllode is about 4 to 11 centimeters (1.5 to 4.3 inches) long and 2 to 5 millimeters (0.08 to 0.2 inches) wide. They also have up to ten veins running lengthwise, with one or two veins standing out more than the others.
In springtime, Dawson's wattle produces beautiful golden yellow flowers. These flowers are round, like small balls. They grow in short clusters from where the phyllodes meet the stems.
Where Does Dawson's Wattle Grow?
Dawson's wattle is native to eastern Australia. It grows from southeastern Queensland down through New South Wales and into northeastern Victoria. You can often find it in open woodlands and forests. It prefers the slopes and flat, elevated areas known as tablelands.
Even though it's not widely planted in gardens, this wattle is very tough. It can grow well in many different types of climates.
How Was Dawson's Wattle Named?
The first scientific description of Acacia dawsonii was made in 1897. It was described by a botanist named Richard Baker. Botanists are scientists who study plants. They give plants their scientific names, which helps everyone around the world know exactly which plant they are talking about.
