Acacia empelioclada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia empelioclada |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
empelioclada
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia empelioclada is a type of shrub, often called a wattle, that belongs to the Acacia family. It is found only in a specific area along the south coast of southwestern Australia. When a plant or animal is found only in one place, it's called endemic to that area.
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What Does Acacia empelioclada Look Like?
This wattle is a tall, thin shrub that usually grows between 0.5 to 2 metres (1.6 to 6.6 ft) (about 1.6 to 6.5 feet) high. Its branches are ribbed, have long soft hairs, and are black to grey.
Its leaves are quite interesting! They have one to three pairs of small leaf-like parts called pinnae. These pinnae are usually 10 to 30 mm (0.39 to 1.18 in) long. However, the pinnae closest to the stem on leaves with many pairs are shorter, about 2 to 12 mm (0.079 to 0.472 in) long. Each pinna has three to ten pairs of even smaller leaflets called pinnules. The pinnules closest to the stem have two to four pairs.
The pinnules are flat, green, and smooth (this is called glabrous). They are shaped like narrow rectangles and are about 4 to 10 mm (0.16 to 0.39 in) long and 1 to 3 mm (0.039 to 0.118 in) wide.
Flowers and Seed Pods
Acacia empelioclada blooms from July to October, producing yellow-cream flowers. Its flowers grow in simple groups of one or two, found in the axils (the angle between a leaf and the stem). These groups form round flower-heads that contain 25 to 43 cream to pale yellow flowers.
After the flowers, seed pods grow. These pods are about 1 to 5 mm (0.039 to 0.197 in) long and 6 to 9 mm (0.24 to 0.35 in) wide. They have a single vein running along them. Inside, the seeds are arranged sideways across the pod.
How Is Acacia empelioclada Classified?
This wattle belongs to a group of wattles known as the Acacia browniana group. It looks similar to two other wattle species: Acacia leioderma and Acacia lateriticola.
Where Does Acacia empelioclada Grow?
Acacia empelioclada is found naturally along the south coast of Western Australia. This area includes the Goldfields-Esperance and Great Southern regions.
You can often find this plant in moist areas, on low hills, and on rocky slopes. It prefers to grow in sandy soils that contain gravel, especially where there is laterite (a type of soil and rock). The plant's range stretches from around Cape Riche in the west all the way to the Fitzgerald River National Park. It grows as part of natural plant groups like mallee heath or mixed scrub communities.
