Acacia retrorsa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia retrorsa |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
retrorsa
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia retrorsa is a special type of shrub. It belongs to the Acacia family, also known as wattles. This plant grows only in western Australia. When a plant or animal grows only in one specific area, it is called endemic.
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What Does Acacia retrorsa Look Like?
This shrub usually spreads out low to the ground. It can grow from about 5 centimeters (2 inches) to 0.5 meters (1.6 feet) tall. It has many stems and thin branches that can be up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) long.
The branches are mostly smooth, or only slightly hairy. They are green with thin yellow lines. Like most Acacia plants, it doesn't have true leaves. Instead, it has phyllodes. These are flattened leaf stalks that look and act like leaves.
The phyllodes of Acacia retrorsa point backwards. They are sharp, green, and smooth. They are shaped like thin lines, either straight or slightly curved. Each phyllode is about 15 to 25 millimeters (0.6 to 1 inch) long and 1 to 2 millimeters (0.04 to 0.08 inches) wide. They have one clear vein down the middle.
Flowers and Seed Pods
This plant blooms from August to September. It produces bright yellow flowers. The flowers grow in round clusters, called flower-heads. Each flower-head has about 16 to 24 light golden flowers. These flower-heads grow on single stalks.
After the flowers, dark brown seed pods form. They look a bit like a string of beads. These pods can be up to 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) long and about 3.5 to 4.5 millimeters (0.14 to 0.18 inches) wide. Inside the pods are blackish seeds with a yellow center. The seeds are about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) long and have a club-shaped part called an aril. An aril is a fleshy covering on some seeds.
How Was Acacia retrorsa Named?
A botanist named Carl Meissner first officially described this plant in 1855. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants.
Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley changed its name to Racosperma retrorsum. But in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group.
Scientists think this plant is related to the Acacia pravifolia group. It also looks a bit like Acaca declinata.
Where Does Acacia retrorsa Grow?
Acacia retrorsa grows naturally in a small area of Western Australia. You can find it in the Wheatbelt and Mid West regions.
It likes to grow in gravelly, sandy, or loamy soils. These soils are often found over or near a type of rock called laterite. Its range is quite small, from Jurien Bay in the north down to Eneabba in the south. It usually grows in open woodlands or low, open heathland areas.
