Acacia richardsii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia richardsii |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
richardsii
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia richardsii is a type of shrub that belongs to the large group of plants called Acacia (also known as wattles). This particular wattle is special because it is found only in a small part of north-western Australia. When a plant or animal is found only in one specific area, it is called endemic.
What Does it Look Like?
This bushy, rounded shrub usually grows between 1.5 to 4 metres (5 to 13 ft) tall. Its branches are smooth and have sticky ridges. These branches are angled towards their tips.
Like many Acacia plants, it doesn't have regular leaves. Instead, it has special flattened stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes are always green. They are slightly uneven in shape. They look like narrow ellipses or oblongs.
Each phyllode is about 1.7 to 4 cm (0.67 to 1.57 in) long. They are also 4.5 to 9 mm (0.18 to 0.35 in) wide. The phyllodes are quite thin and have blunt ends. They often look a bit greyish-green. You can usually see two main veins on each side. There are also many tiny veins that are hard to spot.
Flowers and Seeds
Acacia richardsii blooms from March to August. It produces bright yellow flowers. The flowers grow in simple clusters. These clusters appear alone or in pairs. They grow from the axils (the spot where a leaf or branch joins the stem).
Each flower cluster sits on a stalk. These stalks are 5 to 15 mm (0.20 to 0.59 in) long. They hold up cylindrical flower-spikes. Each spike is 2 to 3 cm (0.79 to 1.18 in) long. They are 2 to 4 mm (0.079 to 0.157 in) wide. These spikes are packed with golden flowers.
After the flowers bloom, woody seed pods form. These pods are reddish-brown. They are long and narrow, like a line. They become thinner at their base. These pods are sticky with resin. They can grow up to 8 cm (3.1 in) long. They are 4 to 6 mm (0.16 to 0.24 in) wide. The pods have slanted veins running along them.
Inside the pods are shiny seeds. The seeds are grey to brown. They are oblong in shape. Each seed is about 4.5 mm (0.18 in) long. They have a small, cup-shaped attachment called an aril.
Where Does it Grow?
This plant is found in a small area of the Kimberley region. This is in Western Australia. It grows on hills, along creek beds, and in rocky areas. It prefers soils that are based on sandstone.
Its range is quite limited. It grows from around Kununurra. From there, it extends eastwards. It reaches into the Top End of the Northern Territory. You can find it as far as the Keep River National Park.
