Acacia subsessilis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia subsessilis |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
subsessilis
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia subsessilis is a type of shrub. It belongs to the large Acacia plant family. This plant is special because it grows naturally only in a specific part of western Australia. When a plant or animal is found only in one area, it is called endemic.
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About the Acacia subsessilis Plant
This shrub often looks a bit messy and has a strong smell. It usually grows to be about 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6.5 feet) tall. It can be shaped like a ball or a funnel. Its branches are smooth (this is called glabrous) and have small bumps where old leaves used to be.
Like most Acacia plants, it doesn't have true leaves. Instead, it has special flattened stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes are dull green or sometimes a light red color. They are stiff and have a sharp point. They attach directly to the branches.
The phyllodes are usually long and narrow, about 1 to 3 centimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) long. They are very thin, only about 0.8 to 1.5 millimeters wide. Each phyllode has eight small lines, or nerves, with three on each side.
Flowers and Seed Pods
Acacia subsessilis blooms from July to August. It produces bright yellow flowers. These flowers grow in simple groups called inflorescences. Each group grows by itself where a leaf meets the stem (this spot is called the axil).
The flower-heads are shaped like short cylinders or ovals. They are about 7 to 15 millimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long and 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) wide.
After the flowers bloom, the plant makes seed pods. These pods are thin and feel a bit like leather. They look like a string of beads. Each pod can grow up to 8 centimeters (3.1 inches) long and 5 to 6 millimeters (0.2 to 0.24 inches) wide. Inside, you'll find shiny black seeds. The seeds are oval-shaped and about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) long. They have a creamy-colored part attached to them called an aril.
Plant Family and Relatives
Acacia subsessilis is closely related to another plant called Acacia diallaga. Both of these plants have phyllodes that can change color from green to a light reddish color. This color change happens during dry periods, like a drought.
It also looks a bit like Acacia colletioides and Acacia chapmanii.
Where Acacia subsessilis Grows
This plant is found naturally in two regions of Western Australia: the Mid West and the Wheatbelt. It often grows on rocky hills. You can find it in stony gravel or sandy soils, usually on or around areas with ironstone.
The plant's distribution is "disjunct." This means it grows in separate, unconnected areas, not all in one big patch. Its range is limited, stretching from Mount Farmer Station in the west to Yalgoo in the east. It usually grows as part of open shrubland communities. These are areas where shrubs are the main type of plant, and they are not too close together.
