Acacia lirellata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia lirellata |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
lirellata
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia lirellata is a type of shrub that belongs to the Acacia family, also known as wattles. It grows naturally only in the southwestern part of Australia.
Description
This bushy shrub usually grows to be about 0.3 to 3 meters (1 to 10 feet) tall. It can spread out to about 4 meters (13 feet) wide, often forming a dense, low shape. Its branches are smooth, meaning they are glabrous, or have tiny hairs. They are also ribbed and can be straight or slightly wavy.
Like most Acacia plants, it has special leaf-like structures called phyllodes instead of true leaves. These phyllodes stand upright and are flat. They are long and narrow, but can also be curved or wavy. The phyllodes are smooth, thick, and have eight clear veins. They are typically 3 to 13 centimeters (1.2 to 5.1 inches) long and 0.8 to 3 millimeters (0.03 to 0.12 inches) wide.
This plant blooms from June to August, producing bright yellow flowers. The flowers grow in simple groups called inflorescences. These groups appear in pairs where the leaf joins the stem, which is called the axil. They are shaped like a short oval or almost round, and sometimes like a cylinder. Each flower group is 5 to 15 millimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) long and 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) across, packed with golden flowers.
After the flowers, seed pods form. These pods are firm and look a bit like a string of beads. They can be straight or loosely coiled. The flat, brown pods grow up to 7 centimeters (2.8 inches) long and 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) wide, with wide edges. Inside, the shiny dark brown seeds are lined up lengthwise. The seeds are oblong-elliptic (a stretched oval) in shape, about 2.5 to 3 millimeters (0.1 to 0.12 inches) long, and have a yellowish tip called an aril.
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of naming and classifying living things. For Acacia lirellata, scientists recognize two different types, called subspecies:
- Acacia lirellata subsp. compressa
- Acacia lirellata subsp. lirellata
Distribution
This shrub is found only in a specific part of Western Australia, mainly in the Wheatbelt region around a town called York. It often grows on sandy plains and can be found in sandy, loamy, or clay soils. You can find scattered groups of this plant from Coorow and Ballidu in the north, down to areas like Waterbidden Rock and Bruce Rock in the south.
