Bent-leaf wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bent-leaf wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
flexifolia
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The Bent-leaf Wattle (scientific name: Acacia flexifolia) is a special type of shrub. It is also known as the small winter wattle. This plant grows only in eastern Australia, which means it is endemic to that area.
Contents
What Does the Bent-leaf Wattle Look Like?
Size and Shape
This wattle is usually a small to medium-sized shrub. It typically grows to be about 0.3 to 1.5 meters (1 to 5 feet) tall. It can grow upright or spread out low to the ground. Its branches have tiny hairs and sometimes have sticky, clear sap.
Leaves (Phyllodes)
Like many Acacia plants, the Bent-leaf Wattle does not have true leaves. Instead, it has what are called phyllodes. These phyllodes are like flattened leaf stems that do the job of leaves. They are narrow and can be straight or slightly curved. Each phyllode is about 1 to 2.5 centimeters (0.4 to 1 inch) long and 1 to 2 millimeters wide. They are smooth and have one main vein running through them.
Flowers and Seed Pods
The Bent-leaf Wattle usually blooms between June and September. It produces small, round flower heads that are bright yellow. Each flower head is about 4 to 6 millimeters across and has only a few flowers (four to eight). These flower heads grow in pairs where the phyllodes join the stem.
After the flowers bloom, the plant forms seed pods. These pods can be straight or very curved. They are about 4 to 12 centimeters (1.5 to 4.7 inches) long and 2 to 3 millimeters wide. The pods are usually thin and feel like paper or thin leather.
Where Does the Bent-leaf Wattle Grow?
The Bent-leaf Wattle is found in the eastern parts of Australia. You can see it in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. It often grows inland and along the Great Dividing Range. This plant likes to live in woodlands, especially dry sclerophyll forests and areas with mallee trees.
How Was This Plant Named?
The Bent-leaf Wattle was first officially described by a botanist named George Bentham. He wrote about it in 1842. For a short time in 1987, it was put into a different plant group by Leslie Pedley. But in 2001, it was moved back to the Acacia group, where it belongs today.
Images for kids
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A close-up of the Bent-leaf Wattle's phyllodes and flowers.
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A map showing where the Bent-leaf Wattle grows in Australia.
