Deane's wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Deane's wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
deanei
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia deanei (also known as Deane's wattle or green wattle) is a type of tree or shrub. It is native to Australia. This plant is very useful for helping to control soil erosion, which is when soil gets washed or blown away.
There are two main types, or subspecies, of Deane's wattle. These are Acacia deanei subsp. deanei and Acacia deanei subsp. paucijuga.
What Does Deane's Wattle Look Like?
This plant can grow as a shrub or a small tree. It usually reaches a height of about 1.5 to 7 meters (5 to 23 feet). Its bark is smooth and can be grey-brown or green.
The branches have small ridges and tiny yellow or whitish hairs. The leaves are special; they are pinnate. This means they look like feathers, with many small leaflets arranged along a central stem.
Each leaf has 10 to 12 pairs of these main leaflet stems. On each of these, there are 7 to 45 pairs of even smaller leaflets. These tiny leaflets are usually oblong or linear in shape. They are about 1.5 to 12 millimeters long and 0.4 to 1.3 millimeters wide.
Deane's wattle flowers throughout the year. Its flowers grow in round clusters called flower-heads. These flower-heads are small, about 3 to 5.5 millimeters across. Each one contains 15 to 30 flowers that are cream-colored, pale yellow, or sometimes bright yellow.
After the flowers, flat seed pods grow. These pods can be straight or slightly curved. They are often pinched in between each seed. The pods feel leathery and can be quite long, from 3.5 to 18 centimeters (1.4 to 7 inches). They are about 5.5 to 11 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide.
How Was Deane's Wattle Named?
Scientists first officially described this species in 1932. It was later moved to a different group of plants called Racosperma in 1986. But then, in 2001, it was moved back to the Acacia group.
The name deanei honors Henry Deane. He was a railway engineer who also loved studying plants. He was the one who collected the first sample of this plant that scientists used to describe it.
Acacia deanei looks quite similar to two other wattle species. These are Acacia mearnsii and Acacia parramattensis. People sometimes confuse them.
As mentioned, there are two subspecies:
- Acacia deanei subsp. deanei (known as Deane's wattle)
- Acacia deanei subsp. paucijuga
Where Does Deane's Wattle Grow?
This plant is endemic to eastern Australia. This means it only grows naturally in this part of the world. You can find it across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
Deane's wattle grows in many different types of places. It is often found in sclerophyll forest communities. These are forests with tough, leathery-leaved plants. It can grow in various soil types.
It is very common in the inland areas of southern Queensland. It is also found in central parts of both New South Wales and Victoria.
