Coast golden wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coast golden wattle |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
|
| Species: |
leiophylla
|
 |
|
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The Acacia leiophylla, often called the Coast Golden Wattle, is a type of tree or shrub. It belongs to the Mimosaceae family. This plant grows naturally in parts of South Australia and Western Australia.
What Does the Coast Golden Wattle Look Like?
This plant can grow as a shrub or a small tree. It can reach a height of about 4 meters (about 13 feet). Its branches are flexible and smooth, meaning they don't have any hairs.
Like many other wattle plants, it has special leaf-like parts called phyllodes instead of regular leaves. These phyllodes are thin, leathery, and smooth. They are shaped like a sickle and are about 10 to 13 centimeters (4 to 5 inches) long. They are also about 15 to 22 millimeters (0.6 to 0.9 inches) wide. Each phyllode has one main vein and no side veins.
How Was This Wattle Named?
The Coast Golden Wattle was first described by a botanist named George Bentham. He wrote about it in the London Journal of Botany in 1842.
This wattle looks a bit like another plant called Acacia pycnantha. However, you can tell them apart because the Coast Golden Wattle has lighter-colored phyllodes.
Where Does the Coast Golden Wattle Grow?
You can find the Coast Golden Wattle along the southern coast of South Australia. Its natural home stretches from around Coffin Bay on the Eyre Peninsula in the west. It goes all the way to Mount Gambier in the east.
It usually grows in sandy or loamy soils. It is often found in open scrub areas. You might see it growing alongside Mallee Eucalyptus trees.
