Acacia jensenii facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Acacia jensenii
Scientific classification
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	jensenii
Occurrence data from AVH

Acacia jensenii is a type of shrub or small tree. It belongs to the Acacia family, which is also known as wattles. This plant grows naturally only in the northwestern parts of Australia. It is found nowhere else in the world.

What Does Acacia jensenii Look Like?

This plant can be a thin, open shrub or a small tree. It usually grows to be about 1 to 6 meters (3 to 20 feet) tall. It often has one or two main stems at its base.

The leaves of Acacia jensenii are not true leaves. They are actually flattened leaf stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes are green and have a long, narrow shape. They are about 2.5 to 6 centimeters long and 3 to 6 millimeters wide.

This plant produces bright yellow flowers. You can usually see these flowers between May and August. After the flowers bloom, the plant forms small, young seed pods. These pods are about 7 to 8 millimeters wide. Inside the pods are seeds that are set at an angle.

How Did Acacia jensenii Get Its Name?

The scientific name Acacia jensenii was first given to this plant in 1917. It was named by a botanist named Joseph Maiden. He included its description in a book about the plants of the Northern Territory.

For a short time, in 2003, this plant was called Racosperma jensenii. But in 2006, scientists decided to move it back to the Acacia group. So, its official name is Acacia jensenii again.

Where Does Acacia jensenii Grow?

You can find Acacia jensenii spread out across different areas of Western Australia. It grows in the Kimberley, Pilbara, and Goldfields-Esperance regions. It likes to grow on flat plains and sand dunes. It is often found in red sandy soils. You can also see it in rocky areas like sandstone gullies.

This plant also grows in the Northern Territory. There, it is found in the Tanami Desert. It prefers to grow on the slopes and tops of sand dunes in that area.