Acacia desertorum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia desertorum |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
desertorum
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia desertorum is a type of shrub, sometimes called a wattle, that belongs to the Acacia family. It grows only in Western Australia, which means it's endemic there. This plant is known for its dense growth and pretty golden flowers.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The Acacia desertorum is usually a thick shrub. It typically grows about 0.6 to 2 meters (2 to 6.5 feet) tall. Sometimes, it can even grow into a small tree, reaching up to 4 meters (13 feet).
Leaves and Branches
Its branches are smooth and have small ridges. The leaves, called phyllodes, are a grey-green color and stand upright. They are shaped like a diamond but are round, like a pencil. These leaves are stiff and pointed. They can be 5 to 15 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) long and about 1 to 1.5 millimeters thick. Each leaf has 8 to 16 clear lines running along it.
Flowers and Seeds
This plant blooms from July to November. Its flowers grow alone or in pairs where the leaves meet the stem. The flower heads are round or slightly oval. They are about 7 to 9 millimeters long and 6 to 8 millimeters wide. These flower heads are packed with bright golden flowers.
After the flowers, long, straight, or slightly curved seed pods grow. These pods have four sides, like a square stick. They can be up to 8.5 centimeters (3.3 inches) long and 1 to 2 millimeters wide. The pods are thin and leathery. Inside, you'll find shiny brown seeds that are about 4 to 4.5 millimeters long.
How Was It Named?
This plant was first officially described in 1927. Two botanists, Joseph Maiden and William Blakley, gave it its scientific name. Botanists are scientists who study plants. They wrote about it in a paper called Descriptions of fifty new species and six varieties of western and northern Australian Acacias.
Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley changed its name to Racosperma desertorum. But in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group.
Different Types
There are two slightly different types, or varieties, of Acacia desertorum:
- Acacia desertorum var. desertorum
- Acacia desertorum var. nudipes
Where Does It Grow?
Acacia desertorum grows naturally in the Goldfields-Esperance area of Western Australia. You can find it in different places like sand dunes, flat sandy areas, and plains. It likes to grow in gravelly and sandy soils, often over a type of rock called laterite.
It is found in scattered spots, from around Southern Cross in the west to the Great Victoria Desert in the east.
