Acacia praetermissa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia praetermissa |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
praetermissa
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia praetermissa is a special type of wattle plant. It grows naturally in only a small area of the Northern Territory in Australia. In 2006, this wattle was listed as a vulnerable plant. This means it needs protection because there are not many of them left in the wild. This listing happened under a law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Contents
What Does This Wattle Look Like?
This wattle is usually a shrub that grows up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) tall. It has many stems. After a bushfire, it can grow back from its roots, which is pretty cool! The bark on its stems is smooth and has blotchy blue-grey colours. Its small branches are purple-brown and often look like they are covered in a fine white powder.
Leaves and Flowers
Like most Acacia plants, this wattle has special flattened stems called phyllodes instead of true leaves. These phyllodes are long and narrow, a bit like a sickle, and they spread out. They are usually 9 to 18 cm (3.5 to 7.1 in) long and 3 to 18 mm (0.12 to 0.71 in) wide. Each phyllode has one main vein and a few smaller ones.
The Acacia praetermissa blooms between February and August. It produces flower-spikes that are shaped like cylinders. These spikes are 1 to 2.7 cm (0.39 to 1.06 in) long and are packed with bright golden flowers.
Seed Pods and Seeds
After the flowers, the plant grows woody seed pods. These pods are smooth and flat, looking like long, narrow strips. They can be 4.5 to 10.5 cm (1.8 to 4.1 in) long. The pods are either straight or slightly pinched between each seed. They also have veins that run across or along them.
Inside the pods are brown seeds. These seeds are shaped like oblong ovals or circles and are 5 to 7 mm (0.20 to 0.28 in) long. Each seed has a small, cone-shaped attachment called an aril.
Where Does This Wattle Grow?
This wattle has a very limited home. It is found only in the area between Pine Creek and Emerald Springs in the top end of the Northern Territory. It often grows on hillsides in soils that are made of laterite (a type of red soil) or sandy silt. You can usually find it growing as part of Eucalyptus woodland communities.
Its Small Home
The known groups of Acacia praetermissa are found along a part of the Stuart Highway. This area is about 52 km (32 mi) long but less than 1 km (0.62 mi) wide. Scientists estimate that there are fewer than 300 plants in total. This small number is why it is considered a vulnerable species.
