Baxter's wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baxter's wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
baxteri
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| Acacia baxteri occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
Acacia baxteri, often called Baxter's wattle, is a type of shrub. It belongs to the large group of plants known as Acacia (wattles). This special wattle plant is found only in the southwestern part of Western Australia.
What Does Baxter's Wattle Look Like?
Baxter's wattle is a small, neat shrub. It usually grows to be about 0.2 to 1 metre (1 to 3 ft) tall. This plant has a strong smell.
It blooms with bright yellow flowers from September to December. The branches are stiff and have small ridges. They are also smooth, without any hairs.
Instead of true leaves, this wattle has thick, stiff structures called phyllodes. These phyllodes are like flattened leaf stems that do the job of leaves. They are directly attached to the stem. Their shape can be very narrow and long, or more oval. They are about 10 to 25 millimetres (0.39 to 0.98 in) long and 1 to 4 mm (0.04 to 0.16 in) wide.
Each branch has one round flower head. These heads contain 30 to 50 tiny flowers. After the flowers, curved, woody, reddish-brown seed pods grow. These pods can be up to 6.5 millimetres (0.26 in) long and 3 to 5 mm (0.12 to 0.20 in) wide. Inside, the seeds are grey-brown and oblong. They are about 5 to 6 mm (0.20 to 0.24 in) long.
How Scientists Name and Group Baxter's Wattle
Scientists give plants special names to help identify them. The plant Acacia baxteri was first officially described in 1842. This was done by a botanist named George Bentham. He wrote about it in a scientific paper.
Sometimes, plants get different names over time. A. baxteri has two other names that scientists have used. These are Acacia bagsteri and Racosperma baxteri.
Baxter's wattle is closely related to another plant called Acacia andrewsii. Its phyllodes also look quite similar to those of Acacia unifissilis.
The name baxteri honors a person named Bagster, who was also known as William Baxter.
Where Does Baxter's Wattle Grow?
This shrub is native to the Wheatbelt and Great Southern areas of Western Australia. It doesn't grow everywhere in these regions. Instead, its populations are spread out.
Most of these plants are found between Ongerup and Albany. You can also find some scattered groups further north. Baxter's wattle often grows in Eucalyptus woodlands. It also thrives in open mallee heath communities.
