Acacia islana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia islana |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
islana
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia islana is a type of shrub that belongs to the Acacia family. It's also known as a wattle. This plant grows naturally in some parts of northeastern Australia.
Contents
What Does Acacia islana Look Like?
This shrub usually grows to be about 2 to 4 meters (6.5 to 13 feet) tall. It often has an open, somewhat thin shape. The plant is glabrous, which means it's smooth and has no hairs. It's also a bit resinous, meaning it has a sticky, sap-like substance.
Branches and Leaves
Its branches are grey to brownish. They have bumpy ridges, called tuberculate-ribs, which make them look a bit rough. Like most Acacia species, this plant doesn't have true leaves. Instead, it has phyllodes. These are flattened leaf stems that act like leaves.
The phyllodes are always green, thin, and slightly curved. They are about 1 to 2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long and 0.3 to 0.5 millimeters (0.01 to 0.02 inches) wide. You can't easily see any veins on them. They are often scattered and might appear in small groups of two or three.
Flowers and Seeds
When Acacia islana blooms, it produces simple flower clusters called inflorescences. These grow one by one in the axils (the angle between a leaf and the stem). Each cluster has a single round flower-head. This head is made up of 20 to 30 light golden-colored flowers.
After the flowers, flat, long, and firm seed pods grow. These pods are about 3 to 6 centimeters (1.2 to 2.4 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.12 to 0.16 inches) wide. Inside the pods, the seeds are arranged lengthwise. They are oblong (oval-shaped) and about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.2 inches) long.
Where Does Acacia islana Grow?
This shrub is found in only a few places in the central part of Queensland, Australia. You can find it south of Theodore in the Isla Gorge National Park. It likes to grow on hillsides, ridge tops, and other areas. It prefers soils that are based on sandstone.
Habitat and Neighbors
Acacia islana grows as part of open Eucalyptus woodland communities. It is found in and around several national parks, including Isla Gorge National Park, Precipice National Park, Expedition National Park, and Carnarvon Gorge National Park. It also grows in Coominglah State Forest and near the small town of Widbury.
There are about nine groups of Acacia islana plants in Isla Gorge National Park. Some of these groups are quite dense, meaning there are many plants close together. It is also common in Precipice National Park and around Widbury. This plant often grows alongside other trees and shrubs like Acacia hockingsii, Eucalyptus decorticans, Eucalyptus exserta, Eucalyptus cloeziana, Corymbia trachyphloia, Eucalyptus dura, Lysicarpus angustifolia, and Corymbia watsoniana.
