Acacia gracillima facts for kids

Acacia gracillima is a special kind of shrub or small tree. It's part of the Acacia family, which is famous for its many different types of plants. This particular Acacia grows naturally in the northwestern parts of Australia.

What is Acacia gracillima Like?

This plant can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching up to 4 m (13 ft) (about 13 feet) high. It has unique dark red bark that looks a bit like "minni ritchi" bark, which peels off in thin, curly strips. Its branches are a bit angular and have small, soft hairs on them.

Instead of regular leaves, Acacia gracillima has something called phyllodes. These are like flattened leaf stems that do the job of leaves. They are always green and have a long, narrow shape. They get a little thinner towards the bottom and can be slightly curved. These phyllodes are usually 3.5 to 9 cm (1.4 to 3.5 in) (about 1.4 to 3.5 inches) long and very thin, only 0.5 to 2 mm (0.020 to 0.079 in) (less than an inch) wide. They are covered in tiny, yellowish hairs that lie flat. Each phyllode has one main vein that stands out, plus two other less noticeable veins running along its length.

Between May and July, this Acacia blooms with beautiful golden flowers. These flowers grow in cylinder-shaped spikes that are 2 to 4 cm (0.79 to 1.57 in) (about 0.8 to 1.6 inches) long. They are packed tightly with bright yellow blossoms.

After the flowers, greenish-brown seed pods start to form. These pods are long and narrow, and they squeeze in a bit between each seed. They are 4 to 9 cm (1.6 to 3.5 in) (about 1.6 to 3.5 inches) long and feel a bit hairy and sticky. Inside, you'll find black-brown seeds arranged lengthwise. Each seed has a small, dark spot called an areole and a pale ring around it.

Where Does It Grow?

Acacia gracillima is a plant that is endemic to a specific area. This means it only grows naturally in one place in the world! For this Acacia, that place is the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia.

You'll often find it growing on and around the Wunaamin-Miliwundi Ranges. It likes to live on rocky, steep slopes and in savannah grasslands. It prefers to grow in rocky soils that are made of quartzite, which is a very hard type of rock.