Acacia sessilis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia sessilis |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
sessilis
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia sessilis is a type of shrub, a small woody plant, that belongs to the Acacia family. It is found only in the southwestern part of Australia, meaning it's endemic there.
Contents
What is Acacia sessilis Like?
This shrub is often spread out and can look a bit messy. It usually grows to be about 0.3 to 1 meter (1 to 3 feet) tall. Its branches have small spines and are covered in tiny, soft hairs.
Leaves and Flowers
Like many Acacia plants, it doesn't have true leaves. Instead, it has what are called phyllodes. These are flattened leaf stalks that act like leaves. The phyllodes of Acacia sessilis are stiff and pointed. They can be 7 to 25 millimeters long and 0.6 to 1.3 millimeters wide. Each phyllode has one to three veins on its surface. This plant blooms with bright yellow flowers from July to October.
How Was Acacia sessilis Named?
The first official description of Acacia sessilis was made by a botanist named George Bentham. He wrote about it in a scientific work called Notes on Mimoseae, with a synopsis of species. This was published in the London Journal of Botany.
Name Changes
For a short time in 2003, this plant was reclassified and called Racosperma sessile. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its scientific name, sessilis, comes from a Latin word. It means "fit for sitting on." This name was chosen because the phyllodes or flowers grow directly from the stem without a small stalk.
Where Does Acacia sessilis Grow?
This shrub is native to an area along the west coast of Western Australia. You can find it in regions like the Mid West, Wheatbelt, and Peel. It prefers to grow in soils that are gravelly clay or sandy soils with a type of rock called laterite. It grows from the area around Geraldton in the northwest down to Yarloop in the southeast.
