Acacia tenuispica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia tenuispica |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
tenuispica
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia tenuispica is a type of tree or shrub. It belongs to a large group of plants called Acacias, also known as wattles. This plant is special because it only grows in one specific part of the world: the northwestern area of Australia. This means it is endemic to that region.
What Does Acacia tenuispica Look Like?
This tree or shrub usually grows to be about 1.5 to 5 meters (5 to 16 feet) tall. It has branches that spread out, giving it a wide, cone-like shape. Its small branches are smooth and have clear ribs. They also have tiny, round bumps and are angled towards the tips.
Like many Acacia species, this plant does not have typical leaves. Instead, it has what are called phyllodes. These are flattened leaf stems that act like leaves. The phyllodes of Acacia tenuispica are thin and sometimes have small, round bumps on their surface. They are shaped like a narrow oval, but they are not perfectly even on both sides.
These phyllodes are usually 4 to 7 centimeters (1.6 to 2.8 inches) long and 6 to 16 millimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) wide. They have many evenly spaced veins, with three to five of them being a bit more noticeable than the others.
The plant blooms with yellow flowers from May to July. Its simple flower clusters grow in pairs where the leaves meet the stem (this spot is called the axil). These flower clusters are narrow and shaped like cylinders, measuring 1.5 to 4.5 centimeters (0.6 to 1.8 inches) long. They are packed with golden-colored flowers.
After the flowers, woody, red seed pods form. These pods are shaped like a narrow rectangle and get thinner towards the bottom. They can be up to 7.5 centimeters (3 inches) long and 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. The pods have fine slanted veins and narrow winged edges. Inside, the seeds are arranged at an angle. The seeds are shiny brown, about 4 to 4.5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.18 inches) long, and oval-shaped. They have a special attachment called an aril, which looks like an upside-down cone.
Where Does Acacia tenuispica Grow?
Acacia tenuispica is found naturally in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. You can find it in the area where water collects for the Prince Regent River, and also east of Walcott Inlet. It also grows in the area that feeds the Drysdale River.
This plant prefers to grow in different types of places, but it is mostly found around sandstone rocks. It is usually part of a group of plants called Eucalyptus woodland communities. This means it grows alongside many Eucalyptus trees.
