Acacia limbata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia limbata |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
limbata
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia limbata is a type of shrub, which is a small, bushy plant. It belongs to a large group of plants called Acacia, also known as wattles. This particular wattle is special because it is found only in certain parts of northern Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
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What Does Acacia limbata Look Like?
This slender shrub usually grows to be about 0.4 to 2 meters (1.3 to 6.6 feet) tall. It is glabrous, meaning it has a smooth surface without any hairs. Its bark is grey to grey-brown and has long cracks.
Branches and Leaves
The branches are also smooth and often look like they are covered in a fine white powder. They are flat near the tips and have clear, raised lines. Like most Acacia plants, it doesn't have true leaves. Instead, it has phyllodes. These are flattened leaf stalks that act like leaves.
The phyllodes are always green. They are often connected to the branches and can be shaped like an oval or a wider oval that narrows at one end. They can also be half-moon shaped. These phyllodes are usually straight or slightly curved. They are about 5 to 12 centimeters (2 to 4.7 inches) long and 10 to 33 millimeters (0.4 to 1.3 inches) wide. They have light-colored edges and three clear lines running along them.
Flowers and Seed Pods
Acacia limbata usually blooms in June and July, but sometimes it can flower in October. It produces bright yellow flowers. These flowers grow in cylinder-shaped spikes that are about 0.9 to 2.5 centimeters (0.4 to 1 inch) long.
After the flowers, woody seed pods grow. These pods are reddish-brown to purplish-brown and stand upright. They are narrow and flat, about 3.8 to 8.5 centimeters (1.5 to 3.3 inches) long and 10 to 15 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide. The pods are smooth and can have a white powdery coating. Inside, the seeds are brown-black, oval-shaped, and about 4.6 to 6.6 millimeters (0.18 to 0.26 inches) long. Each seed has a small, cup-shaped attachment called an aril.
How Was Acacia limbata Named?
The first person to officially describe this plant was a botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. He described it in 1859 in a scientific paper.
Later, in 1987, another botanist named Leslie Pedley changed its name to Racosperma limbatum. However, in 2001, it was moved back to the Acacia group, so its name became Acacia limbata again.
Where Does Acacia limbata Grow?
This plant is found in different spots across northern Australia. It grows in a small part of the Kimberley region in Western Australia. Here, you can often find it near sandstone rocks, especially north of Halls Creek.
It is also spread out across the Top End of the Northern Territory. From there, it extends east into the northwestern parts of Queensland. In these areas, it often grows on stony hillsides and near creeks. It prefers gravelly soils. You will usually find it growing alongside Eucalyptus trees and Melaleuca plants in woodland areas.
