Acacia quinquenervia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia quinquenervia |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
quinquenervia
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia quinquenervia is a type of shrub that belongs to the Acacia family. It is special because it only grows in the southwestern part of Australia. This plant is also known as a wattle, which is a common name for many Acacia species.
What Does It Look Like?
This shrub usually grows to be about 0.2 to 1.5 metres (0.7 to 4.9 ft) tall. It has bark that peels off and looks a bit like fibers. Its small branches are often covered in tiny hairs.
Like most Acacia plants, it has phyllodes instead of true leaves. Phyllodes are flattened leaf stems that look and act like leaves. The phyllodes of Acacia quinquenervia are green to grey-green. They are flat and narrow, measuring 2 to 7 cm (0.79 to 2.76 in) long and 1 to 2 mm (0.039 to 0.079 in) wide. You can easily see five clear veins on them.
The plant produces small, round flower-heads. These flower-heads are about 3.5 to 4 mm (0.14 to 0.16 in) across. Each one contains 15 to 20 light golden-colored flowers. These flowers grow on two branched stems called racemes.
After the flowers bloom, long, flat seed pods form. These pods are slightly curved and can be up to 5.5 cm (2.2 in) long. They are about 1.5 to 3 m (4 ft 11 in to 9 ft 10 in) wide. The pods can be smooth or slightly hairy. Inside, they hold mottled seeds arranged lengthwise. The seeds are oblong, about 2.5 to 3 mm (0.098 to 0.118 in) long. Each seed has a small, cone-shaped attachment called an aril at its end.
How Was It Named?
The plant was first officially described by a botanist named Bruce Maslin in 1999. He wrote about it in a scientific journal called Nuytsia.
Later, in 2003, another botanist, Leslie Pedley, reclassified it. He gave it the name Racosperma quinquenervium. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia genus.
The second part of its scientific name, quinquenervia, comes from Latin. "Quinque" means "five," and "nervus" means "vein." This name refers to the plant's phyllodes, which usually have five noticeable veins.
Where Does It Grow?
Acacia quinquenervia is found in the Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance areas of Western Australia. It grows in different types of soil, including sandy, clay, or loamy soils. You can often find it on flat areas and gently rolling plains.
Its distribution is spread out across the region. It grows from places like Nyabing, Western Australia in the southwest. It can be found as far north as Peak Charles National Park. This plant is usually part of low Eucalyptus woodlands. It also grows in open areas with many small shrubs called mallee shrubland.
