Dietrich wattle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dietrich wattle
Sketch of A. dietrichina from Iconography of Australian species of Acacia and cognate genera
Scientific classification
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	dietrichiana
Occurrence data from AVH

The Dietrich wattle (Acacia dietrichiana) is a special kind of shrub. It belongs to a large group of plants called Acacia. This plant is only found in Queensland, Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.

What Does the Dietrich Wattle Look Like?

This shrub can grow quite tall, up to about 6 meters (around 20 feet). It has branches that are a bit sticky and reddish in color.

Its leaves are not typical leaves. They are actually flattened leaf stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes are a dull blue-green color. They are straight, tough, and smooth. Each one is about 1 to 2.5 centimeters long and 0.2 to 0.3 millimeters wide. They have a clear line down the middle.

When the Dietrich wattle blooms, usually in June and July, it grows golden, round flower-heads. After the flowers, it produces brown seed pods. These pods look like beads and are straight and smooth. They are about 4 to 6 centimeters long and 5 millimeters wide.

How Was It Named?

The Dietrich wattle was first officially described by a botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He wrote about it in 1882 in a science journal.

Later, in 1987, another botanist, Leslie Pedley, gave it a different name, Racosperma dietrichianum. But in 2001, scientists decided to move it back to the Acacia group. So, its official name is once again Acacia dietrichiana.

Where Does the Dietrich Wattle Grow?

You can find the Dietrich wattle in the inland parts of northern and central Queensland. It grows in areas from the White Mountains National Park in the north down to a town called Tambo in the south. This plant likes to grow in rocky areas and shallow sandy soils.