Acacia viscifolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia viscifolia |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
viscifolia
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia viscifolia is a special kind of shrub that belongs to a large group of plants called Acacias. This particular acacia is found only in a certain part of southwestern Australia. It's a unique plant that adds to the amazing variety of life there.
What it Looks Like
This shrub usually grows to be about 0.3 to 1 meter (1 to 3 feet) tall. It has a sticky, resinous feel, which means it produces a sap like tree resin. It's also a dwarf plant, meaning it stays quite small. Its branches are round but have slight angles, and they get thinner towards the ends.
Like most acacia plants, Acacia viscifolia doesn't have regular leaves. Instead, it has what are called phyllodes. These are flattened leaf stems that act like leaves. The phyllodes of this plant are very thin, like threads, and can be 1 to 4 centimeters long. They are only about 0.5 millimeters thick. Sometimes, they curve inwards.
This plant blooms, or flowers, from June to August. It produces bright yellow flowers. These flowers grow in groups of three or four on special stems called racemes. Each group forms a round flower-head with about 20 to 25 tiny yellow flowers.
How it Got its Name
Scientists who study plants are called botanists. Two botanists, Joseph Maiden and William Blakely, first officially described Acacia viscifolia in 1927. They wrote about it in a scientific paper.
For a short time, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley changed its scientific name to Racosperma viscifolium. However, by 2006, it was changed back to its original name, Acacia viscifolia, which is what we call it today.
Where it Lives
Acacia viscifolia is found only in certain areas of Western Australia. These areas include the Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions.
You can often find this shrub in low-lying places. It likes to grow near rivers, creeks, and swamps. It can grow in different types of soil, including sandy, clay, or loamy soils.
