Acacia incrassata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia incrassata |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
|
| Species: |
incrassata
|
 |
|
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia incrassata is a special kind of shrub. It belongs to a large group of plants called Acacias. This plant is only found in the southwestern part of Australia. When a plant or animal is found only in one specific place, we call it endemic.
Contents
What Does Acacia incrassata Look Like?
This shrub stands upright and can grow to be about 0.1 to 0.3 meters (or 4 to 12 inches) tall. It has a strong smell, which is what "pungent" means. It can spread by sending out underground stems called "subterranean runners."
Branches and Leaves
The branches of Acacia incrassata have clear ridges, like ribs. They are covered with soft, silky hairs, especially on these ridges. The branches also have small, tough, and sometimes spiky parts called stipules. These stipules are about 1.5 to 3 millimeters long.
Like many Acacia plants, this shrub does not have regular leaves. Instead, it has special flattened stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes look and act like leaves. They stay green all year round. They are also shiny and smooth, which means they are "glabrous."
Phyllode Shape and Flowers
The phyllodes are not perfectly even on both sides, so they are called "inequilateral." They often have a unique shape, like a triangle or a wedge, but with the wider part at the top. They are usually 5 to 12 millimeters long and 4 to 10 millimeters wide. Each phyllode has a clear main vein, or "midrib," running along one edge.
Acacia incrassata produces bright yellow flowers. These flowers typically appear between June and August.
Where Does Acacia incrassata Grow?
This plant is native to the west coast of Western Australia. You can find it in areas like the Wheatbelt and Peel regions. It often grows in soils that are rich in laterite, which is a type of reddish soil.
Specific Locations
Most of these plants are found from Mount Lesueur in the north down to Kalamunda in the south. You can also see them around Serpentine and Watheroo. In these places, they grow in loamy soils, which are a mix of sand, silt, and clay.
They are often part of woodlands where Eucalyptus wandoo trees grow. They can also be found in low heath communities, which are areas with small shrubs, growing in loamy or gravelly soils.
