Chippendale's wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chippendale's wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
chippendalei
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia chippendalei, also known as Chippendale's wattle, is a cool type of shrub. It belongs to the Acacia family, which is famous for its wattles. This plant is special because it only grows in northern Australia. This means it's endemic to that area.
What Chippendale's Wattle Looks Like
This shrub usually spreads out and grows low to the ground. It's about 0.2 to 0.5 meters (less than 2 feet) tall. Its stems are covered in soft, white, fuzzy hairs. It also has tiny leaf-like parts called stipules, which are very small, only about 0.4 to 1 millimeter long.
The green "leaves" of this plant are called phyllodes. They grow in groups of 8 to 11, forming a circle around the stem. These phyllodes are slightly flat or straight. They are about 2.5 to 8 millimeters long. Chippendale's wattle blooms in spring, from September to October. When it blooms, it produces pretty yellow flowers.
How Chippendale's Wattle Got Its Name
A botanist named Leslie Pedley first officially described this plant. He did this in 1972. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants.
At first, the plant was named Racosperma chippendalei in 1987. But later, in 2001, it was moved back to the Acacia group. So, its official name became Acacia chippendalei again.
Where Chippendale's Wattle Grows
This wattle plant is found in several parts of Australia. You can see it in Queensland and the Northern Territory. It also grows in the Kimberley and Goldfields areas of Western Australia.
It grows in different types of soil. Sometimes it's found in thin, rocky soils. Other times, it grows in deep, sandy soils. You can find it from the Sir Frederick Range in Western Australia all the way to places like Cloncurry and Mount Isa in Queensland.
