Recurved wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Recurved wattle |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
recurvata
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The recurved wattle (Acacia recurvata) is a type of shrub that belongs to the Acacia plant family. It is found only in a small part of western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area, growing naturally nowhere else in the world.
Contents
What Does the Recurved Wattle Look Like?
This wattle is a thick, dome-shaped shrub. It usually grows to be about 0.6 to 2.5 meters (2 to 8 feet) tall. Its small branches can be smooth or have a few yellow hairs. When the branches are young, they can feel a bit sticky because they have a lot of resin.
Like most Acacia plants, the recurved wattle has special leaf-like parts called phyllodes instead of true leaves. These phyllodes are a dull grey-green to dark green color. They are curved and shaped like a narrow oval, about 2.5 to 4 centimeters (1 to 1.5 inches) long and 4 to 8 millimeters (0.15 to 0.3 inches) wide. They have five to ten lines, or "nerves," that also contain resin.
Flowers and Seed Pods
The recurved wattle blooms in July, producing bright yellow flowers. These flowers grow in round clusters, like small balls, that are about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.15 to 0.2 inches) across. Each flower cluster has 18 to 25 golden-colored flowers.
After the flowers bloom, thin, leathery seed pods start to form. These pods are long and narrow, growing up to 6 centimeters (2.3 inches) long and 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) wide. Inside the pods are dark brown seeds that are shaped like small blocks, about 3 to 4 millimeters (0.12 to 0.15 inches) long.
Where Does the Recurved Wattle Grow?
The recurved wattle is found in a small area of the Mid West region of Western Australia. It likes to grow in sandy-clay or clay-loam soils that are often found on granite rock. You can usually spot it on hills, flat areas, and along creeks.
Its natural home stretches from around Coorow in the north down to Three Springs in the south. It often grows as part of shrubland or in open woodlands where Eucalyptus wandoo trees are common.
Images for kids
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Map showing where Acacia recurvata is found in Western Australia.
