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Acacia erioclada facts for kids

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Acacia erioclada
Scientific classification
Genus:
Acacia
Species:
erioclada

Acacia erioclada is a type of shrub, a small bushy plant, that belongs to the Acacia family. It's found only in Western Australia. This plant is known for its spreading branches and sometimes thorny stems.

What Does Acacia erioclada Look Like?

This spreading shrub usually grows to be about 0.3 to 0.6 meters (about 1 to 2 feet) tall. That's roughly knee to waist height for a person. Its branches can have small thorns. The branchlets, which are small branches, are mostly smooth. They have tiny, narrow leaf-like parts called stipules.

The plant's "leaves" are actually flattened leaf stalks called phyllodes. These phyllodes are narrow and shaped like an oval or rectangle. They are about 4 to 7.5 millimeters long and 1 to 2 millimeters wide.

Acacia erioclada blooms in June and July, showing off bright yellow flowers. Each flower cluster is round and contains 18 to 22 golden flowers. These clusters grow where the leaves meet the stem.

After the flowers, tan-colored seed pods appear. These pods are narrow and oblong, about 3 centimeters long and 2 to 2.5 millimeters wide. Inside the pods are oblong seeds, each about 2.2 to 2.7 millimeters long. The phyllodes of this plant look similar to those of another acacia, Acacia sessilis.

How Was Acacia erioclada Named?

A botanist named George Bentham first officially described this plant in 1855. He wrote about it in a scientific journal called Linnaea. Later, in 2003, another botanist, Leslie Pedley, reclassified it. He gave it a new name, Racosperma eriocladum. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia family. The first sample of this plant, called the type specimen, was collected by James Drummond.

Where Does Acacia erioclada Grow?

This plant is endemic, meaning it grows naturally only in one specific area. It is found in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. You can find it on sandy plains and small hills. It prefers sandy, rocky soils. The plants are scattered between the towns of Watheroo and Bruce Rock. They grow as part of the natural shrubland, which is an area with many small bushes and plants.

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