Acacia undosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia undosa |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
undosa
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia undosa is a type of shrub, which is a small, bushy plant. It belongs to a big group of plants called Acacias, also known as wattles. This particular wattle is special because it only grows naturally in a specific part of Western Australia.
What it Looks Like
This bushy shrub usually grows to be about 0.3 to 1.5 meters (about 1 to 5 feet) tall. It often has a rounded or cone-like shape. Its small branches are a bit hairy. It also has tiny, pointed leaf-like parts called stipules that stay on the plant.
Like most Acacia plants, Acacia undosa doesn't have true leaves. Instead, it has special flattened stems called phyllodes that act like leaves. These phyllodes are stiff and smooth, with a sharp point at the end. They are usually straight or slightly curved, measuring about 2 to 4.5 centimeters (about 0.8 to 1.8 inches) long and 1 to 4 millimeters (about 0.04 to 0.16 inches) wide.
The plant blooms from July to September, showing off bright yellow flowers. These flowers grow in round clusters, about 3 to 3.5 millimeters (about 0.12 to 0.14 inches) across. Each cluster has 18 to 20 golden-colored flowers.
After flowering, Acacia undosa forms interesting seed pods. These pods look a bit bumpy and are very wavy, like a ribbon. They are about 1 to 4 centimeters (about 0.4 to 1.6 inches) long and 2.5 millimeters (about 0.1 inches) wide. Inside these pods are dark brown seeds, which are usually oval-shaped and about 2.2 to 2.7 millimeters (about 0.09 to 0.11 inches) long.
How it Got its Name
The scientific name for this plant, Acacia undosa, was first officially written down in 1995. Two botanists, Richard Sumner Cowan and Bruce Maslin, described it in a scientific paper. This paper was published in a journal called Nuytsia.
Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley tried to change its name to Racosperma undosum. But then, in 2006, it was changed back to its original name, Acacia undosa. This shows how scientists sometimes update plant names as they learn more!
Where it Lives
Acacia undosa is found only in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. It likes to grow in low-lying areas or on gently rolling hills. You can often find it in sandy clay or sandy-loamy soils.
The plant's natural home stretches from places like Bruce Rock and Tammin in the north. It goes down to areas near Lake Grace in the southwest and Lake King in the southeast. It often grows as part of open shrub communities, which are areas with many different types of small, bushy plants.
