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Acacia sedifolia facts for kids

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Acacia sedifolia
Scientific classification
Genus:
Acacia
Species:
sedifolia
Acacia sedifoliaDistMap800.png
Occurrence data from AVH

Acacia sedifolia is a type of shrub, a small woody plant, that belongs to the Acacia family. It's special because it's only found in the southwestern part of Australia. This plant is also known as a wattle, which is a common name for many Acacia species.

What Does Acacia sedifolia Look Like?

This shrub usually grows to be about 0.3 to 2.0 meters (about 1 to 6.5 feet) tall. It often forms a thick, round shape and can spread out to about 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) wide. Its small branches are sticky and smell nice when you crush them.

The leaves of Acacia sedifolia are quite unique. They are actually flattened leaf stems called phyllodes. These thick, green phyllodes are packed closely together on the branches. They are usually shaped like a rectangle or a wedge, and they curve back at the tip. These small phyllodes are only about 2 to 5 millimeters long and 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters wide. They point upwards and end in a sharp tip. This plant blooms with bright yellow flowers between June and August.

How Scientists Name This Plant

The scientific name Acacia sedifolia was first officially described by two botanists, Joseph Maiden and William Blakely, in 1928. They wrote about it in a scientific paper that introduced many new Acacia species from western and northern Australia.

Later, in 2003, another scientist named Leslie Pedley reclassified it under a different genus, calling it Racosperma sedifolium. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia genus, which is where it remains today.

There are also two known types of Acacia sedifolia, called subspecies:

  • Acacia sedifolia subsp. pulvinata
  • Acacia sedifolia subsp. sedifolia

Where Does Acacia sedifolia Grow?

This plant naturally grows in a specific area of Western Australia called the Wheatbelt region. You can find it on ridges and hilltops. It prefers to grow in soils that contain gravelly sand, clay, or loam, especially in areas with a type of soil called laterite.

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