Acacia uncifera facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Acacia uncifera
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Clade:	Mimosoideae
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	A. uncifera
Binomial name
Acacia uncifera Benth.
Occurrence data from AVH
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Acacia uncifera is a type of shrub or tree that belongs to the large plant group called Acacia. It is found naturally only in the northeastern parts of Australia.

About the Acacia uncifera Plant

This shrub or tree usually grows to be about 2 to 5 meters (6.5 to 16 feet) tall. It can look a bit straggly or have a graceful, willow-like shape. Its small branches are covered with soft, short hairs, like velvet.

The leaves of Acacia uncifera are not typical leaves. Instead, it has flattened leaf stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes are green and stand out from the stem. They are narrow and shaped like a rectangle or an ellipse. Each one is about 2 to 5 centimeters (0.8 to 2 inches) long and 6 to 15 millimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) wide. They also have a clear line down the middle, which is the main vein.

When the plant blooms, it produces many flowers. These flowers grow in groups of 10 to 20 along long stalks called racemes. These racemes are about 5 to 8 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) long. Each group forms a round flower-head with 25 to 30 bright golden flowers.

After the flowers bloom, thin, leathery seed pods start to grow. These pods are also covered in soft, velvety hairs. They can be squeezed in places between the seeds. Each pod can grow up to about 6.5 centimeters (2.5 inches) long and 6 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide. Inside the pods are dull black seeds. These seeds are shaped like an ellipse and are about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.2 inches) long. They are arranged diagonally or across the pod.

How Acacia uncifera Got Its Name

The first official description of Acacia uncifera was written by a botanist named George Bentham in 1848. This description was part of a book by Thomas Mitchell called Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia.

Later, in 1987, another botanist named Leslie Pedley changed its scientific name to Racosperma unciferum. However, in 2001, it was moved back to the Acacia group, and its name became Acacia uncifera again.

Where Acacia uncifera Grows

This plant is endemic, which means it grows naturally only in a very specific and small area. You can find it in Queensland, a state in northeastern Australia. It grows from the White Mountains area down to Torrens Creek and the beginning of the Nogoa River.

Acacia uncifera prefers to grow on plains and hills. It likes sandy soils that are found over or around sandstone rocks. It is often part of open forests or woodlands. In these areas, it grows alongside other trees like Angophora and Eucalyptus species.