Acacia gardneri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia gardneri |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
gardneri
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia gardneri is a special kind of shrub or small tree. It belongs to the big plant group called Acacia, which is also known as wattle trees. This plant is found only in Western Australia.
Contents
What Does Acacia gardneri Look Like?
This plant usually grows as a slender, upright shrub or a small tree. It can reach a height of about 1.8 to 6 meters (6 to 20 feet). Its bark is smooth and brown, covering the trunk and branches. The branches are light brown and have a roundish, slightly flattened shape.
The leaves of Acacia gardneri are not typical flat leaves. Instead, they are modified stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes are narrow and oval-shaped, becoming narrower at their base. They are usually 5 to 12 centimeters (2 to 5 inches) long and 20 to 30 millimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches) wide. Each phyllode has three to four main veins that are easy to see.
Flowers and Seeds
Acacia gardneri blooms from May to August, showing off its lovely yellow flowers. The flowers grow in spikes that are 4 to 6 centimeters (1.6 to 2.4 inches) long. The pale yellow flowers are arranged loosely on these spikes.
After the flowers, seed pods start to form. These pods are long and thin, with bumps where the seeds are located. The pods are often twisted and measure 5 to 8 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) in length. Inside, they hold dark brown seeds that are shaped like narrow ovals. Each seed is about 4 to 4.5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.18 inches) long.
How Acacia gardneri Got Its Name
This plant was first officially described in 1927 by two botanists, Joseph Maiden and William Blakely. Botanists are scientists who study plants. They wrote about it in a scientific paper.
Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley reclassified the species. However, in 2006, it was moved back into the Acacia group.
The plant's specific name, gardneri, honors a botanist and plant collector named Charles Austin Gardner.
Where Acacia gardneri Grows
Acacia gardneri is an endemic plant, which means it grows naturally only in a specific area. For this plant, that area is the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
It likes to grow in places that get flooded during certain seasons. You can find it in shallow, rocky soil over sandstone, or in sandy soil near quartzite rocks and watercourses.
