Mountain hickory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids mountain hickory |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
obliquinervia
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
| Synonyms | |
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Racosperma obliquinervium (Tindale) Pedley |
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Acacia obliquinervia, often called mountain hickory or mountain hickory wattle, is a special type of Acacia plant. It is endemic, which means it only grows naturally in one place: southeastern Australia.
Contents
What is Mountain Hickory?
This plant can be a shrub or a tree. It can grow anywhere from about 1 meter (3 feet) to 15 meters (50 feet) tall. It might grow straight up or spread out wide.
Bark and Branches
The mountain hickory has dark brown bark that is deeply cracked. Its branches are often angled or flat. They are smooth and sometimes covered with a fine white powder.
Phyllodes (Leaf-like Parts)
Like most Acacia species, this plant doesn't have true leaves. Instead, it has phyllodes. These are flattened leaf stalks that look and act like leaves. The phyllodes are smooth and stay green all year. They are usually shaped like an oval or a narrow spear. They can be from 5 to 17 centimeters (2 to 7 inches) long and 9 to 55 millimeters (0.3 to 2 inches) wide. Each phyllode has a clear vein down the middle.
Flowers and Seed Pods
Mountain hickory blooms between August and December. It produces bright yellow, round flower-heads. Each flower-head is about 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide and has 20 to 35 tiny flowers. These flower-heads grow in clusters along a zig-zag stem.
After the flowers, the plant forms seed pods. These pods are thin and papery to slightly leathery. They are shaped like an oblong and can be 4 to 15 centimeters (1.5 to 6 inches) long. They are 12 to 25 millimeters (0.5 to 1 inch) wide and might also have a fine white powdery coating. Inside the pods are dull or slightly shiny black seeds. The seeds are about 5 to 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long.
Where Does Mountain Hickory Grow?
This plant is native to southeastern New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and Victoria in eastern Australia.
Growing in New South Wales
In New South Wales, you can find mountain hickory in the tableland areas. These are high, flat areas of the Great Dividing Range, south of the Goulburn River valley. It grows in soils that come from sandstone. It is often found in moist or dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands. Sclerophyll forests have plants with hard, tough leaves that help them survive dry conditions.
Growing in Victoria
In Victoria, mountain hickory grows in the central and eastern parts of the state. Its range stretches from the Grampians all the way to areas east of Melbourne. It commonly grows in mountain woodlands and forests. You can find it at high altitudes, from about 500 to 1700 meters (1,640 to 5,577 feet) above sea level.
