Tingoora wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tingoora wattle |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
tingoorensis
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The Tingoora wattle, also known as Acacia tingoorensis, is a special tree found only in eastern Australia. It's a type of wattle tree, which belongs to a big group of plants called Acacia.
What the Tingoora Wattle Looks Like
This tree usually grows up to 8 m (26 ft) (about 26 feet) tall. It has hard, grey-brown bark that looks a bit grooved. Its branches are often thick and covered in soft, fine hairs, making them feel velvety.
Leaves and Flowers
Like most wattle trees, the Tingoora wattle doesn't have regular leaves. Instead, it has what are called phyllodes. These phyllodes are like flattened leaf stems that do the job of leaves. They are smooth and shaped like narrow ellipses. They can be straight or curved like a sickle.
These phyllodes are quite long, from 9 to 19 cm (3.5 to 7.5 in) (about 3.5 to 7.5 inches) in length. They are also 13 to 44 mm (0.51 to 1.73 in) (about 0.5 to 1.7 inches) wide. You can see many lines running along them, but three of these lines are much clearer than the others.
The Tingoora wattle blooms, or flowers, during August and September. When it flowers, it produces beautiful golden flowers. These flowers grow in simple spikes, which are like long clusters of flowers. Each flower-spike can be 5 to 9 cm (2.0 to 3.5 in) (about 2 to 3.5 inches) long.
Where the Tingoora Wattle Lives
The Tingoora wattle is a very special tree because it is endemic to a very small area. This means it only grows naturally in this one place. You can find it in the South Burnett Region of South East Queensland, near a town called Kingaroy.
It often grows along the sides of roads, sometimes in thick groups. It prefers to grow in deep red or sandy soils. This wattle tree is usually found as part of Eucalyptus woodland communities. It grows to the east of where another wattle tree, Acacia longispicata, is found.
