Bendee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bendee |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
catenulata
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The Bendee tree, also known as Acacia catenulata, is a special type of tree found only in certain dry parts of Australia. It belongs to a large group of plants called Acacia trees.
What Does the Bendee Tree Look Like?
The Bendee tree can grow quite tall, usually up to 15 meters (about 49 feet) high. It has a dark trunk with deep grooves, almost like flutes. Its branches are short and grow sideways, with younger branches looking darker and having tiny hairs.
Like many Acacia trees, the Bendee doesn't have regular leaves. Instead, it has flat, straight structures called phyllodes. These phyllodes are always green and can be from 3 to 9.5 centimeters (about 1 to 3.7 inches) long and 3 to 12 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.5 inches) wide. They have fine lines running along them, with one main line in the middle.
When the Bendee tree blooms, it produces flower-spikes that look like cylinders. These spikes are about 10 to 30 millimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) long and grow from where the phyllodes meet the stem.
After the flowers, the tree forms flat, pale brown seed pods. These pods are pinched in between each seed, making them look a bit bumpy. They can be up to 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) long and 4 to 6 millimeters (about 0.16 to 0.24 inches) wide. The pods are smooth and have wrinkles running lengthwise. Inside, the seeds are oblong, about 4 to 5 millimeters long, and have a small yellow attachment called an aril.
How Was the Bendee Tree Named?
The Bendee tree was first officially described by a botanist named Cyril Tenison White in 1944. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. He wrote about it in a scientific paper called Contributions to the Queensland Flora.
Later, in 1987, another botanist named Leslie Pedley reclassified it, giving it a different scientific name, Racosperma catenulatum. However, in 2001, it was moved back to the Acacia group, returning to its original name, Acacia catenulata.
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the Bendee tree:
- Acacia catenulata subsp. catenulata
- Acacia catenulata subsp. occidentalis
Where Does the Bendee Tree Grow?
The Bendee tree is found in different parts of Australia. It grows naturally in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, especially around the town of Newman. In this area, you'll often find it on rocky slopes made of old sediments, growing in shallow soil.
It's not very common in the Northern Territory, but it is quite widespread in central and southern Queensland.
