Koolanooka wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Koolanooka wattle |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
muriculata
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The Acacia muriculata, also known as the Koolanooka wattle, is a type of shrub. It belongs to the Acacia family, which is a large group of plants. This special wattle only grows naturally in a small part of southwestern Australia. This means it's found nowhere else in the world.
What Does the Koolanooka Wattle Look Like?
This shrub has many branches and usually grows about 1 to 2 metres (3 to 7 ft) tall. Its branches are quite complex. The plant has small ridges with tiny hairs that fall off. It also has small leaf-like parts called stipules, which are about 2 to 4 mm (0.079 to 0.157 in) long.
New shoots on the plant can be maroon-red or dull brown. Like most Acacia plants, the Koolanooka wattle has phyllodes instead of true leaves. Phyllodes are flattened leaf stems that look and act like leaves.
The phyllodes are grey-green to blue-green and feel tough. They usually have a narrow, oval shape with a sharp, pointed tip. These phyllodes are slightly curved and measure 20 to 45 mm (0.79 to 1.77 in) long and 4 to 10 mm (0.16 to 0.39 in) wide. They have a clear yellowish line down the middle.
This wattle blooms between September and October, and sometimes even in November. Its flowers grow in round clusters, either alone or in pairs. Each flower cluster is dense and contains 26 to 50 light golden flowers.
How Was the Koolanooka Wattle Named?
The Koolanooka wattle was officially named by two botanists, Bruce Maslin and Carrie Buscumb. They described it in 2007. This happened as part of their research published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
They wrote about two new types of Acacia found in the Koolanooka Hills. Scientists believe the Koolanooka wattle is closely related to two other Acacia species: Acacia aculeiformis and Acacia botrydion.
Where Does the Koolanooka Wattle Grow?
The Koolanooka wattle is found in a small area near Morawa. This region is in the Mid West part of Western Australia.
It often grows on the tops and sides of hills. You can find it in loamy soils, which are a mix of sand, silt, and clay. These soils are usually found over or near laterite and ironstone rocks. The plant is typically part of mallee shrubland communities, which are areas with many small, bushy trees and shrubs.
