Acacia dorsenna facts for kids

Acacia dorsenna is a special kind of shrub, a plant that grows like a bush. It belongs to a big group of plants called Acacias, which are often known as wattles. This particular acacia is found only in Western Australia, making it an endemic species.

Quick facts for kids Acacia dorsenna
Conservation status
Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	dorsenna
Occurrence data from AVH

About Acacia dorsenna

The Acacia dorsenna is a dense, rounded shrub. It usually grows to be about 1.0 to 1.6 metres (3 to 5 ft) tall and can spread out to 3.0 metres (10 ft) wide.

What Does It Look Like?

• Its smooth, dull green "leaves" are actually special flattened stems called phyllodes.
• These phyllodes are shaped like an oval or a wider oval, about 10 to 15 mm (0.39 to 0.59 in) long and 5 to 9 mm (0.20 to 0.35 in) wide.
• They have a main vein and side veins, but these are not very clear to see.
• The plant blooms from August to September.
• It produces bright golden yellow flowers.
• These flowers grow in groups of seven to ten.
• Each flower-head is round and contains 15 to 21 tiny flowers.
• After flowering, it forms long, narrow, brown seed pods.
• These pods are about 6 cm (2.4 in) long and 11 mm (0.43 in) wide.
• Inside the pods are oblong-shaped seeds, which can be up to 4 mm (0.16 in) long.

Where Does It Grow?

Acacia dorsenna naturally grows in a small area of Western Australia. This area is in the Goldfields-Esperance region, specifically in the Shire of Dundas.

• It likes to grow on low, rocky hills.
• The soil it prefers is a mix of rocky sand, loam, and clay.
• Scientists know of only two groups of these shrubs.
• Both groups are found about 25 km (16 mi) north of a town called Norseman.
• They grow in areas with mallee trees or other types of shrubland.

Similar Plants

This acacia is part of a group that includes Acacia prainii. It also looks a bit like Acacia camptoclada and some kinds of Acacia merrallii.