Stony ridge wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stony ridge wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
semirigida
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| Acacia semirigida occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium
kybeanensis |
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The stony ridge wattle (which scientists call Acacia semirigida) is a type of shrub or small tree. It belongs to the Acacia family, which is a large group of plants. This wattle plant naturally grows in the northeastern parts of Australia.
Contents
What the Stony Ridge Wattle Looks Like
This plant usually grows to be about 4 meters (13 feet) tall. Its branches are a dark reddish color and are smooth, meaning they have no hairs. The ends of the branches often have angles.
Leaves and Flowers
Like many Acacia plants, the stony ridge wattle has special leaf-like parts called phyllodes instead of true leaves. These phyllodes usually point upwards. They can be narrow and shaped like a spear or a line. They might be straight or slightly curved.
These thin, smooth phyllodes are about 4 to 8 centimeters (1.6 to 3.1 inches) long and 4 to 8 millimeters (0.16 to 0.31 inches) wide. They have a clear middle vein and other veins along their edges.
When the plant blooms, it grows flower clusters that look like small, round balls. These flower-heads have 15 to 25 pale yellow flowers in them.
Seed Pods and Seeds
After the flowers bloom, the plant grows thin, leathery seed pods. These pods are dark or reddish-brown. They are mostly straight but can be a little squeezed between where the seeds are.
The pods grow to about 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) long and 8 to 10 millimeters (0.31 to 0.39 inches) wide. They are slightly shiny. Inside the pods, the seeds are lined up lengthwise. These seeds are black and a bit shiny, measuring about 7 to 8 millimeters (0.28 to 0.31 inches) long. They have tiny pits and a small, club-shaped part called an aril.
Where the Stony Ridge Wattle Grows
The stony ridge wattle is a plant that is endemic to a specific area. This means it only grows naturally in certain parts of southeastern Queensland, Australia.
You can find it scattered in places like Goombungee and Kogan in the north, down to near Eidsvold in the south. It likes to grow in shallow soils, especially on and around sandstone rocks. It is often found as part of open Eucalyptus forests.
