Corkwood wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Corkwood wattle |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
oshanesii
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia oshanesii, often called the corkwood wattle or irish wattle, is a type of wattle tree. It is native to eastern Australia. This plant belongs to the Acacia family, which is famous for its bright yellow flowers.
Contents
What Does Corkwood Wattle Look Like?
The corkwood wattle can grow as a shrub or a tree. It usually stands tall and straight. It can reach a height of about 2 to 12 meters (about 6 to 39 feet). Its bark can be grey, green, or brown. The bark is usually smooth, but sometimes it has small cracks.
Leaves and Branches
The branches of this wattle can be angled or round. They often have fine, yellowish-brown or white hairs on their ridges. The leaves are long and thin. They have a central stem called a rachis, which can be 2.5 to 12 cm long. From this rachis, many smaller leaf parts branch off. These are called pinnae, and there are 7 to 27 pairs of them. Each pinna is 1 to 4.7 cm long.
Even smaller leaf parts grow from the pinnae. These are called pinnules. Each pinna has 14 to 51 pairs of these tiny pinnules. They are smooth and shaped like a rectangle. Each pinnule is very small, only 1 to 3 mm long and 0.5 to 0.7 mm wide.
Flowers and Seed Pods
The corkwood wattle can flower throughout the year. It produces beautiful yellow flowers. These flowers grow in simple groups called inflorescences. They are found in the leaf axils, which are the spots where leaves meet the stem. The flowers form spherical heads. Each flower head contains 12 to 25 pale yellow or cream-colored flowers.
After the flowers bloom, seed pods start to form. These pods are tough and can be brownish-black or bluish-black. They are usually curved in shape. The pods can be quite long, from 3 to 14 cm (about 1 to 5.5 inches). They are about 7 to 12 mm (about 0.3 to 0.5 inches) wide.
Where Does Corkwood Wattle Grow?
The corkwood wattle is found in parts of north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland. In New South Wales, you can find it around Bellingen and Coffs Harbour. Its range extends north into Queensland.
Preferred Habitat
This wattle grows in many different types of soil. It can be found in gravelly, clay, sandy, or loamy soils. It likes to grow in wet sclerophyll forests and rainforest areas. These are forests with tough, leathery-leaved plants that can handle dry periods, but this wattle prefers the wetter parts.
Its range stretches from around Maryborough in the north down to Stanmore in the south. It usually grows in coastal areas. These places often have a lot of rainfall and are not very high above sea level.
