MacDonnell mulga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MacDonnell mulga |
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| Acacia macdonnellensis subsp. teretifolia | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Acacia
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| Species: |
macdonnelliensis
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| Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
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The Acacia macdonnelliensis, also known as the MacDonnell mulga or the Hill mulga, is a special type of Acacia plant. It grows naturally in the middle of Australia. Different Indigenous Australians have their own names for this plant. The Alyawarr people call it irrar. The Kaytetye know it as arleth-arlethe or arwele arleth-arlethe. The Western Arrernte peoples call it irrkwarteke.
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What Does the MacDonnell Mulga Look Like?
This plant can be a bushy shrub or a small tree. It usually grows between 3 to 6 meters (about 10 to 20 feet) tall. It has grey bark with deep cracks.
Leaves and Flowers
The branches are often covered in a fine, soft hair. The leaves, called phyllodes, are grey-green and stand upright. They are long and narrow, measuring from 4 to 15 centimeters (about 1.5 to 6 inches) long. They are also quite thin, only 0.8 to 5 millimeters (about 0.03 to 0.2 inches) wide.
The MacDonnell mulga produces bright yellow flowers in July. These flowers grow in dense spikes. Each flower spike is about 0.6 to 3 centimeters (0.2 to 1.2 inches) long and 3 to 6 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide.
Seed Pods
After the flowers bloom, long, pale brown seed pods form. These pods are squeezed in between each seed. Each pod can be 3 to 9.5 centimeters (1.2 to 3.7 inches) long. They are also 2 to 4 millimeters (0.08 to 0.16 inches) wide. Inside, the dark brown seeds are lined up. Each seed is about 2.5 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long.
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Bark (A. m. subsp. teretifolia)
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Foliage (A. m. subsp. teretifolia)
Where Does the MacDonnell Mulga Grow?
The MacDonnell mulga is found in the southern parts of the Northern Territory. You can see it around Alice Springs. It also grows in the far eastern Pilbara and north eastern Goldfields areas of Western Australia.
Habitat and Environment
This plant likes to grow in areas with sandstone and quartzite. You can often find it along rocky ridges and near creek lines. The MacDonnell mulga is a tough plant. It can handle both dry weather (drought) and cold temperatures (frost).
Different Kinds of MacDonnell Mulga
Just like some animals have different breeds, plants can have different types called subspecies. The MacDonnell mulga has two main subspecies:
- Acacia macdonnelliensis subsp. macdonnelliensis
- Acacia macdonnelliensis subsp. teretifolia
