Acacia paula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia paula |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
paula
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Acacia paula is a type of shrub from the Acacia family. It grows naturally only in a small part of northwestern Australia. This plant is special because it is found nowhere else in the world.
What Does It Look Like?
This shrub grows low to the ground and spreads out. It has many small branches that grow from roots hidden underground.
Its small branches are smooth (this means they are glabrous). They can be green or brown. These branches grow straight up and have sharp edges. The edges often have sticky, wavy lines, which are called resin-crenulated ridges.
Like many Acacia plants, Acacia paula has special leaf-like parts called phyllodes instead of regular leaves. These phyllodes stay green all year round. They are long and thin, like a line. They are also quite flat and straight.
- Phyllodes are usually between 4 to 15 cm (1.6 to 5.9 in) long.
- They are very narrow, only 0.8 to 3 mm (0.031 to 0.118 in) wide.
The phyllodes often feel a bit sticky because of resin. They have one or two main veins that are easy to see. These main veins are not exactly in the middle. There are also many smaller veins that are hard to see.
Acacia paula flowers from February to June. It produces bright yellow flowers. The flowers grow in cylinder or ball shapes. These flower-spikes are 4 to 12 mm (0.16 to 0.47 in) long and are packed with golden flowers.
After flowering, light brown seed pods grow. These pods are long and thin, mostly flat and straight. However, they have a slight curve at the very end.
- The pods are 4 to 5.5 cm (1.6 to 2.2 in) long.
- They are 3.5 to 4.5 mm (0.14 to 0.18 in) wide.
- The pods get narrower at both ends.
Inside the pods are dark brown seeds. They are arranged at an angle. The seeds are oval-shaped but are flattened from top to bottom. Each seed is about 4.2 mm (0.17 in) long.
Where Does It Grow?
Acacia paula is found only in a small area of the East Kimberley region. This area is in Western Australia.
It grows in gravelly soil that is rich in iron, known as lateritic soil. You can find it on the Mitchell Plateau. It often grows on laterite rock, and sometimes on basalt rock.
This plant is usually part of low, open forest areas. It often grows alongside another tree called Corymbia confertiflora.
