Acacia donaldsonii facts for kids
Acacia donaldsonii is a type of shrub or small tree. It belongs to the large Acacia family, which is also known as wattles. This plant is special because it only grows in a specific part of southwestern Australia.
Quick facts for kids Acacia donaldsonii |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
donaldsonii
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
What Does Acacia Donaldsonii Look Like?
This plant is usually a straight, prickly shrub. It can also be a twisted, gnarled tree. It typically grows to be about 1.5 to 5 meters (5 to 16 feet) tall. Its branches are round and have tiny hairs. They also have small scars from where old leaves used to be.
Like most Acacia plants, Acacia donaldsonii does not have true leaves. Instead, it has special leaf-like structures called phyllodes. These phyllodes are always green. They stand upright or slightly curved. They are usually 6 to 14.5 centimeters long. They are quite thin, about 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters wide. These phyllodes are sharp and stiff. They have four to eight faint main veins.
When the plant flowers, it produces round flowerheads. These flowerheads grow in groups of two or more. They appear where the phyllodes join the stem, which is called the axil. Each flowerhead is about 4 to 5 millimeters wide. They contain 30 to 56 bright golden flowers.
After flowering, the plant forms seed pods. These pods look a bit like a string of beads. They are long and curved. As they dry, they split open and twist. The pods are tough and smooth (this means they are glabrous). They can be up to 14 centimeters long and 6 to 10 millimeters wide. Inside the pods are dull brown seeds. The seeds are oval-shaped and are 6 to 9 millimeters long.
How Scientists Named and Classified It
Scientists first officially described Acacia donaldsonii in 1999. The botanists Richard Sumner Cowan and Bruce Maslin did this work. They published their findings in a scientific journal called Nuytsia.
For a short time in 2003, another scientist named Leslie Pedley reclassified it. He called it Racosperma donaldsonii. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group. So, its official name remains Acacia donaldsonii.
Where Does Acacia Donaldsonii Grow?
This plant is found naturally in the Goldfields-Esperance region. This area is in Western Australia. It often grows in specific types of soil. You can find it on salty, stony plains. It also grows near salt lakes and on sandy plains. The soils it prefers include clay, clay-loam, gravelly, and sandy soils.
Acacia donaldsonii is spread out in different locations. It grows from places like Windimurra and Weebo Station. It can also be found near Lake Yindarlgooda in the north. In the south, it grows down to areas around Norseman and Carlisle Lakes. It is often part of a low, open shrubland. Here, it grows alongside other plants like Atriplex and Maireana.
