Acacia kelleri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia kelleri |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
|
| Species: |
kelleri
|
 |
|
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia kelleri is a type of shrub or small tree. It belongs to the Acacia family, which is a large group of plants. This plant is special because it is only found in certain parts of northwestern Australia.
Contents
About the Acacia kelleri Plant
The Acacia kelleri is an interesting shrub or tree. It has thin branches that spread out and often droop, giving it a graceful look. It usually grows to be between 1.5 and 7 meters (about 5 to 23 feet) tall.
What it Looks Like
- Its bark is grey and has small cracks.
- The smaller branches are light to dark brown. They are round and feel a bit fuzzy or woolly.
- The plant's leaves are called phyllodes. These phyllodes grow close together and stand upright.
- They are long and narrow, like a spear tip.
- The phyllodes can be straight or slightly curved. They are about 1 to 2.5 centimeters (0.4 to 1 inch) long. They are also very thin, only about 0.7 to 2.5 millimeters (0.03 to 0.1 inch) wide.
Flowers and Seed Pods
The Acacia kelleri blooms from March to October. During this time, it produces bright yellow flowers. These flowers grow in dense spikes that are about 1.3 to 4.5 centimeters (0.5 to 1.8 inches) long.
After the flowers, the plant grows reddish-brown seed pods. These pods can be up to 11 centimeters (4.3 inches) long. They are about 4.5 to 6 millimeters (0.18 to 0.24 inches) wide.
How Acacia kelleri Got its Name
The Acacia kelleri was first officially described in 1892. A botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller wrote about it. He included it in his work called Observations on plants, collected during Mr Joseph Bradshaw's expedition to the Prince Regent's river. This work was published in a science journal.
Changes to its Name
For a short time in 2003, another botanist, Leslie Pedley, changed its name to Racosperma kelleri. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group. So, its official name is still Acacia kelleri.
The first plant specimen used to describe the species was collected by Joseph Bradshaw. He found it in 1891 near the Prince Regent River.
Where Acacia kelleri Grows
This plant is found in two main areas of northwestern Australia. It grows in the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
You can often find Acacia kelleri in rocky areas. It grows on rocky cliffs and along stony creek beds. It prefers thin, sandy soils that are found over sandstone rocks.
