Acacia tayloriana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia tayloriana |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
tayloriana
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The Acacia tayloriana is a type of shrub that belongs to the Acacia plant family. It is a special kind of plant because it is only found naturally in a small part of southwestern Australia.
About This Plant
This plant is an evergreen shrub, meaning it stays green all year. It grows close to the ground, spreading out. Its branches are a bit hairy. It can grow to be about 0.3 meters (about 1 foot) tall and up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) wide.
The leaves of Acacia tayloriana are interesting. They are made up of one to three pairs of smaller leaf sections called pinnae. Each of these pinnae is about 10 to 20 millimeters long. On each pinna, there are three to five pairs of even smaller leaf parts called pinnules. These pinnules are green and shaped like an oval or a narrow oval. They are about 5 to 11 millimeters long and 3 to 5 millimeters wide. You can see a clear main vein in the middle of each pinnule, plus two or three smaller veins running lengthwise.
This plant blooms in January, producing creamy-white flowers. The flowers grow in round clusters, like small balls. Each cluster has about 20 creamy-white flowers. These flower clusters grow on hairy stalks, called peduncles, which are about 25 to 50 millimeters long. They grow from where the leaves meet the stem, which is called the axil.
After the flowers, the plant forms seed pods. These pods are mostly smooth and have a net-like pattern. They are about 1 to 3 centimeters long and 6 to 8 millimeters wide. Inside, the seeds are arranged either lengthwise or across the pod.
Plant Family and Naming
The Acacia tayloriana was first officially described by a botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. This happened in a publication called Definitions of some new Australian plants.
Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley changed its name to Racosperma taylorianum. But then, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group. This plant is closely related to another plant called Acacia preissiana.
Where It Grows
This shrub is native to the South West area of Western Australia. It likes to grow in damp places. You can find it in soils that are a mix of clay and loam, or in sandy soils that contain laterite.
It grows in a small area, mainly around the Blackwood River to the northeast of Augusta. It is often found as part of the Eucalyptus marginata forest communities there.
Growing This Plant
Acacia tayloriana is a good plant for many types of gardens. It fits well in cottage gardens, native bush gardens, or gardens designed for a Mediterranean climate. People use it as a border plant, a groundcover (spreading over the ground), or even in hanging baskets.
It grows quickly and can attract native animals. It is also good at handling dry conditions (drought tolerant) and can cope with strong winds and a little bit of frost. It prefers a sunny spot and soil that is either damp or dry, as long as it drains water well.
