Acacia triquetra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gold dust wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
triquetra
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The Gold Dust Wattle (scientific name: Acacia triquetra) is a type of shrub. It's part of the Acacia plant family, which is well-known for its wattles. This plant naturally grows in southern Australia.
Contents
What the Gold Dust Wattle Looks Like
This shrub usually grows to about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. It has a smooth, hairless surface, which scientists call glabrous. The plant tends to spread out as it grows. Its branches have sharp angles and ribs under the leaf-like parts.
Leaves and Stems
Like many Acacia plants, the Gold Dust Wattle doesn't have true leaves. Instead, it has special flattened stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes act like leaves and help the plant make food. They grow from small bumps on the stems.
The phyllodes are dark green and can be straight or slightly curved. They are shaped like a narrow rectangle or a spear. Each phyllode is about 10 to 25 millimeters long and 2 to 6 millimeters wide. They have a faint main vein and some side veins.
Flowers and Seed Pods
The Gold Dust Wattle blooms between July and October, usually in September. Its flowers grow in small, round clusters. Each cluster has about 10 to 18 golden flowers. These bright flowers give the plant its "gold dust" name.
After the flowers, seed pods start to form. These pods are firm and feel like paper, which is called chartaceous. They are long and thin, either straight or slightly curved. The pods can grow up to 6 centimeters long and 3 to 4 millimeters wide. Inside the pods, the seeds are lined up lengthwise. The seeds are dark brown and shaped like an oblong. They are about 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters long and have ridges around their edges.
Where the Gold Dust Wattle Grows
The Gold Dust Wattle is a special plant because it is endemic to a very small area. This means it only grows naturally in this specific region. You can find it in South Australia.
It grows on the Eyre Peninsula, from a town called Calca in the north down to Port Lincoln. It also grows on the Yorke Peninsula, from Port Rickaby in the north to Kangaroo Island in the south.
This plant often grows on sea cliffs or in damp places. It prefers sandy soils that are found over or near limestone rocks. It is part of the natural plant groups known as scrub and mallee communities in these areas.
