Barrington wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barrington wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
barringtonensis
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The Barrington wattle (scientific name: Acacia barringtonensis) is a type of shrub that grows in New South Wales, Australia. It's part of the Acacia family, which includes many different kinds of wattles. This plant is special because it's found only in certain parts of New South Wales.
What it Looks Like
The Barrington wattle is a shrub that can grow from about 1 to 6 meters (3 to 20 feet) tall. It has branches that might be slightly hairy. Instead of regular leaves, it has flat, leaf-like structures called phyllodes. These phyllodes are grey-green and can have white or grey hairs. They are usually long and narrow, about 3 to 13 centimeters (1 to 5 inches) long and 5 to 15 millimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) wide. They have one main vein that stands out, and other fainter veins.
This wattle blooms between September and November. Its flowers grow in groups of 3 to 16. The flower-heads are round and small, about 3 to 3.5 millimeters across. They have 8 to 20 yellow to deep yellow flowers. After the flowers, flat, papery or leathery seed pods form. These pods are usually straight or slightly curved. They are about 3 to 8 centimeters (1 to 3 inches) long and 8 to 12 millimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) wide.
How it was Named
The Barrington wattle was first officially described by a botanist named Mary Tindale in 1975. This description was published in a science journal called Telopea. Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley changed its scientific name to Racosperma barringtonense. But in 2006, it was changed back to its original name, Acacia barringtonensis.
The second part of its scientific name, barringtonensis, comes from Barrington Tops. This is a place in the Mount Royal Range where the first sample of the plant was found. The Barrington wattle is closely related to other wattle types like Acacia clunies-rossiae, Acacia caesiella, and Acacia dorothea.
Where it Grows
You can find the Barrington wattle in the north-eastern part of New South Wales, Australia. It often grows in the Great Dividing Range. You might see it from Gibraltar Range National Park in the north all the way down to Barrington Tops National Park in the south.
This shrub often grows near creeks and along the edges of swamps. It prefers soils that come from granite or basalt rocks. It is usually found growing as part of Eucalyptus woodland communities, which are forests mainly made up of eucalyptus trees.
