Montane wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Montane wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
frigescens
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| Where Montane Wattle grows in Australia | |
The Montane Wattle (scientific name: Acacia frigescens) is a cool type of shrub or tree. People also call it the Frosted Wattle or Forest Wattle. It belongs to the Acacia family, which is famous for its many different kinds of wattles. This plant naturally grows in the southeastern part of Australia.
What Does Montane Wattle Look Like?
The Montane Wattle usually grows to be about 3 to 15 meters (10 to 49 feet) tall. It has bark that is quite smooth and branches that are hairless (which means glabrous).
Like many Acacia plants, the Montane Wattle doesn't have regular leaves. Instead, it has special flattened leaf stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes are grey-green and feel a bit leathery. They are shaped like a narrow oval or a wider oval that tapers at the ends. They can be 7 to 16 centimeters (2.8 to 6.3 inches) long and 1.5 to 5 centimeters (0.6 to 2 inches) wide. Each phyllode has three to five main lines, or nerves, running along its length.
Where Does Montane Wattle Grow?
The Montane Wattle is found in a specific part of southeastern Australia. It grows in the cooler, higher areas, often called subalpine and montane regions. You can find it in the east Gippsland area of Victoria, stretching from northeast of Melbourne to near Mount Coopracambra.
This wattle usually grows as a smaller plant under taller trees in Eucalyptus forests. It often shares its home with very tall gum trees like the Eucalyptus regnans, which are some of the tallest flowering plants in the world!
Images for kids
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Map showing where Montane Wattle is found.
