Acacia scleroclada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia scleroclada |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
scleroclada
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia scleroclada is a special type of shrub, a bit like a bush, that belongs to the Acacia family. It's found only in a specific part of Western Australia, which means it's endemic there. This plant is known for its unique look and where it grows.
What It Looks Like
This spreading shrub usually grows to be about 0.5 to 1.2 metres (2 to 4 ft) tall. It often has a somewhat messy or "straggly" shape. Its branches are smooth (which means glabrous) and grow upwards. These branches have ribbed lines and end in hard, spiny points.
Like many Acacia plants, it doesn't have regular leaves. Instead, it has phyllodes. These are flattened leaf stems that act like leaves. The phyllodes are smooth, have a strong smell (pungent), and are a bit stiff (subrigid). They are usually a grey-green to blue-green color.
The phyllodes look a lot like the branches themselves. They are long and narrow, or slightly oval-shaped, and get thinner at both ends. They can be straight or slightly curved. Each phyllode is about 2 to 7 cm (0.79 to 2.76 in) long and 1 to 4 mm (0.039 to 0.157 in) wide. They have one main vein down the middle and five other important veins. This plant blooms from June to September, showing off its bright yellow flowers.
Where It Grows
Acacia scleroclada is found naturally in the Mid West and Wheatbelt areas of Western Australia. You can often spot it on hills and near large granite rocks. It prefers to grow in shallow sandy soils or sandy clay soils.
The area where this shrub grows stretches quite far. It can be found from the Weiragoo Range, which is about 180 km (110 mi) west of Meekatharra, all the way south to around Paynes Find. It usually grows as part of open scrubland, which is an area with many small trees and bushes.
