Acacia gibbosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia gibbosa |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
gibbosa
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia gibbosa is a special kind of shrub or small tree. It belongs to a big group of plants called Acacia, which are often known as wattles. You can only find this plant growing naturally in Western Australia.
Contents
What Does Acacia gibbosa Look Like?
This plant usually grows as a rounded shrub or a small tree. It can reach a height of about 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet). Its branches are smooth, meaning they don't have any hairs.
The leaves of Acacia gibbosa are quite unique. They are actually not true leaves but flattened leaf stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes are green to grey-green and also smooth. They are long and narrow, like a thin stick. Each one is about 4 to 9.5 centimeters (1.6 to 3.7 inches) long. They are also very thin, only about 0.8 to 1.5 millimeters (0.03 to 0.06 inches) wide.
Flowers and Seeds
Acacia gibbosa blooms between August and September. It produces bright yellow flowers. These flowers grow in small clusters, usually two clusters on each leaf axil (where the leaf meets the stem). The flower heads are shaped like small cylinders or ovals. They are about 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and 4 to 4.5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.18 inches) across. Each flower head contains 22 to 27 golden flowers.
After the flowers, long, straight seed pods form. These pods are smooth and about 6.5 centimeters (2.6 inches) long. They are also very narrow, about 2 to 2.5 millimeters (0.08 to 0.1 inches) wide. Inside the pods are shiny black seeds. These seeds are small, about 2.8 to 3 millimeters (0.11 to 0.12 inches) long, and have a narrow oval shape.
How Was Acacia gibbosa Named?
This plant was first officially described by two botanists, Richard Sumner Cowan and Bruce Maslin. They wrote about it in 1995. Their work was part of a bigger study about Acacia plants in Western Australia. It was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley changed its name to Racosperma gibbosum. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group. This shows how scientists sometimes change plant names as they learn more! Acacia gibbosa is sometimes mistaken for another plant called Acacia cyperophylla. It is also closely related to Acacia websteri.
Where Does Acacia gibbosa Grow?
Acacia gibbosa is a plant that is endemic to a specific area. This means it only grows naturally in certain parts of Western Australia. You can find it in the Wheatbelt and Goldfields regions. It usually grows in low-lying areas and on gently rolling plains. It prefers sandy or loamy soils.
