Callicoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Callicoma |
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| An 1895 illustration by Edward Minchen | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Callicoma
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| Species: |
serratifolia
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Callicoma serratifolia is a special plant from Australia. It's a tall shrub or a small tree. People often call it black wattle. This name might come from its flowers, which look a bit like the flowers of other Australian plants called wattles (Acacia). Another reason for the name could be that early settlers used its branches to build their homes, in a style called wattle and daub. This plant also has other fun names like butterwood or silver leaf.
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What Does Black Wattle Look Like?
This amazing plant, the black wattle, can grow quite tall! In the wild, it can reach up to 20 metres (about 65 feet) high. But if you plant it in a garden, it usually grows to be about 6 to 10 metres (20 to 33 feet) tall. It also spreads out about 3 metres (10 feet) wide.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the black wattle are shaped like a spear or an oval. They can grow up to 12 centimetres (about 5 inches) long and 5 centimetres (about 2 inches) wide. The edges of the leaves have small, rough teeth.
- Top of the leaves: They are a dark green color.
- Bottom of the leaves: They look white because they are covered in tiny, soft, white hairs.
The black wattle has pale-yellow, round flowers. These flowers usually appear in late spring and early summer. In Australia, this means around November to December. Each flower head is about 1.5 centimetres (about half an inch) across. They grow on small stalks that are 1 to 2 centimetres long.
Where Does Black Wattle Grow?
You can find Callicoma serratifolia in New South Wales and south-east Queensland in Australia. It likes to grow in or near rainforests, especially close to the coast. You'll often see it along rivers, streams, or near creeks.
How Was This Plant Named?
The first time this plant was officially described was in 1809. A person named Henry Cranke Andrews was the one who first wrote about it. Scientists use a system called taxonomy to name and classify all living things.
