Acacia retinodes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia retinodes |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
retinodes
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
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Acacia retinodes is a type of evergreen shrub or small tree. It is also known by names like Retinodes water wattle or swamp wattle. This plant is originally from parts of Australia, including South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania. It grows pretty yellow flowers in short clusters all year round.
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What is Acacia retinodes?
This tree usually grows to be about 6 to 10 meters (20 to 33 feet) tall. It can also spread by sending up new shoots from its roots, which are called suckers. The bark of the tree is dark brown to black and has a rough, grooved texture.
Its branches are smooth, meaning they don't have hairs (this is called glabrous). These branches can sometimes hang down or be flat at their ends. Like many Acacia species, this plant has phyllodes instead of true leaves. Phyllodes are flattened leaf stems that look and act like leaves. The phyllodes are green to grey-green, smooth, and grow close together on the stems. They are usually long and narrow, about 5 to 16 cm (2 to 6 inches) long and 3 to 16 mm (0.1 to 0.6 inches) wide. Each phyllode has one main vein. The plant mostly blooms in summer, between December and February.
How it was Named (Taxonomy)
The Acacia retinodes species was first officially described by a botanist named Diederich Franz Leonhard von Schlechtendal in 1847. He wrote about it in a scientific journal called Linnaea. Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley reclassified it under a different genus, calling it Racosperma retinodes. However, in 2007, it was moved back to the Acacia genus.
Different Types (Varieties)
There are a couple of known varieties of Acacia retinodes:
- A. retinodes var. retinodes
- A. retinodes var. uncifolia
Where it Grows (Distribution)
In South Australia, Acacia retinodes naturally grows in the Mount Lofty Ranges. You can find it from around Mount Clare down to the Fleurieu Peninsula, near places like Delamere and Normanville. Sometimes, it can spread and become a weed in other areas further southeast. It often grows on low hills as part of Eucalyptus woodlands.
What it is Used For
Acacia retinodes is used for several things. People plant it to help manage the environment and also as an ornamental plant in gardens because it looks nice. The tree produces a good amount of gum. Its bark is also useful for tanning, which is a process used to make leather.
This plant has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This award means it's an excellent plant for gardens. If you want to grow it in a cooler climate, it needs a sunny spot that is protected from frost.
Long ago, Indigenous Australians would eat the gum from this tree. They would soften it in water first. They used it to help with chest pains.
Images for kids
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An Acacia retinodes tree in a botanical garden.
See also
In Spanish: Acacia retinodes para niños
