Gibson's wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gibson's wattle |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
gibsonii
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Acacia gibsonii, also known as Gibson's wattle, is a type of shrub. It belongs to a large group of plants called Acacia and is part of the Juliflorae subgenus.
What it Looks Like
Gibson's wattle is a small, spreading shrub that usually grows to be about 0.5 to 1 meter (about 1.5 to 3 feet) tall. It can spread out to about 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) wide, giving it a somewhat bushy look.
Its branches start out reddish-brown and become light grey as they get older. Like many Acacia plants, it doesn't have regular leaves. Instead, it has special flattened stems called phyllodes that look and act like leaves. These phyllodes are always green. They are long and narrow, about 6 to 13 millimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long and 1.5 to 3 millimeters (0.06 to 0.12 inches) wide. They might be slightly S-shaped.
The phyllodes are smooth and hairless, but they have tiny, reddish-brown hairs that you might need a magnifying glass to see. They also have three clear lines running along them.
Flowers and Seeds
Gibson's wattle blooms from September to October. It produces short, cylinder-shaped flower clusters that are about 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.28 inches) long. These clusters are packed with many small flowers.
After the flowers bloom, usually around December, the plant forms tightly curled seed pods. These pods are brown and have a thin, leathery feel. They are about 12 millimeters (0.47 inches) long and 2.5 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide.
Where it Grows
This wattle grows naturally in a small part of Western Australia. You can find it in the Goldfields-Esperance region, specifically south of the Norseman–Hyden Road. It's quite common in this specific area.
Gibson's wattle usually grows on gentle, rocky hillsides. It prefers thin, reddish, loamy soil that sits on top of greenstone rocks. It often grows in areas with many other shrubs, especially Allocasuarina campestris, Allocasuarina globosa, and Calothamnus quadrifidus.
