Acacia resinistipulea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia resinistipulea |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
resinistipulea
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia resinistipulea is a type of shrub or small tree. It belongs to the Acacia family, which is also known as wattles. This plant grows only in a specific part of southwestern Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
What it Looks Like
This shrub or tree usually grows to be about 0.8 to 4 meters (2.6 to 13 feet) tall. Its branches are a bit sticky (resinous) and have only a few hairs.
Like most Acacia plants, it doesn't have true leaves. Instead, it has special flattened stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes are stiff and can be smooth or have a few hairs. They are grey-green to green in color and have a narrow, oval shape. They can be straight or slightly curved. Each phyllode is about 18 to 25 millimeters (0.7 to 1 inch) long and 3 to 6 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. They have many thin lines, called nerves, running very close together.
The plant blooms from September to November, showing off its yellow flowers. Its simple flower clusters grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem (called the axil). These flower clusters are round, like small balls, about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.2 inches) across. Each flower-head has 23 to 25 golden-colored flowers.
How it Was Named
A botanist named William Vincent Fitzgerald first officially described this plant in 1904. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. He wrote about it in a paper called Additions to the West Australian Flora. This paper was published in the Journal of the West Australian Natural History Society.
Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley changed its name to Racosperma resinistipuleum. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group. The only other name it has ever been known by is Acacia resinostipulea. This is called a synonym, meaning it's another name for the same plant.
This plant looks a bit like another Acacia species called Acacia formidabilis.
Where it Grows
Acacia resinistipulea is found in the Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia. It often grows near salt lakes, on gently rolling plains, and in low-lying areas. It prefers gravelly sand, loam, or clay loam soils.
You can find it scattered in different places, from around Yellowdine and Coolgardie in the north, down to Boingaring Rocks in the south. It grows in open scrubland or in Eucalyptus woodland areas. It is often found growing alongside another plant called Melaleuca uncinata.
