Acacia pachyacra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia pachyacra |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
pachyacra
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia pachyacra is a type of tree or shrub found only in the dry, desert-like areas of central and western Australia. It belongs to the large group of plants called Acacia, also known as wattles.
Contents
What is Acacia pachyacra?
This bushy tree or shrub usually grows to be about 1 to 5 meters (3 to 16 feet) tall. It often has several main stems that grow straight up from near the ground. The top part of the plant, called the canopy, is soft and thick. When the wind blows through it, the leaves make a soft hissing sound. This sound is similar to what you might hear from a Sheoak or Athol Pine tree.
Appearance of the Plant
The bark of Acacia pachyacra is smooth and can be greenish-bronze or reddish-brown. It often has a fine white powdery coating. Near the bottom of the trunk, the bark becomes grey and rough. This plant produces bright yellow flowers. It blooms during the months of August, September, and October.
How Acacia pachyacra Got Its Name
The plant was first officially described by two botanists, Joseph Maiden and William Blakely. They wrote about it in 1927 in a scientific paper. Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley changed its name to Racosperma pachyacrum. However, in 2006, it was changed back to its original name, Acacia pachyacra.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its name, pachyacra, comes from two Greek words. Pachys means "thick," and akron means "top." This name refers to the thick tip found at the end of the plant's leaf-like structures, which are called phyllodes.
Where Acacia pachyacra Grows
This plant is native to certain parts of Western Australia. You can find it in regions like the Pilbara and Goldfields. Its natural home stretches from the coastal areas of the western Pilbara all the way to places like the Docker River. It also grows further east into the Northern Territory and even into the far northwestern part of South Australia.
Preferred Growing Spots
In Western Australia, Acacia pachyacra is commonly found in the Hamersley and Ophthalmia Ranges. It often grows on sand dunes or flat plains in sandy soils. However, it can also grow in rocky red clay soils that have small pebbles. You might also see it along ridges made of banded ironstone, often growing among spinifex plants. Sometimes, it forms thick groups of trees in areas where water flows, called alluvial washes.
