Girringun wattle facts for kids

The Girringun wattle (Acacia lumholtzii) is a special type of shrub found only in a small part of northeastern Australia. It belongs to the Acacia family, which includes many different wattles. Sadly, this plant is considered vulnerable, meaning it's at risk of disappearing if we don't protect it.

What Does the Girringun Wattle Look Like?

This shrub usually grows to be about 2 to 4 meters (6.5 to 13 feet) tall. It has bark that is creamy in color and has small, lens-shaped spots. Its branches have ribs and are covered in dark brown hairs.

Instead of regular leaves, the Girringun wattle has something called phyllodes. These are like flattened leaf stems that do the job of leaves. They stay green all year round! These phyllodes are long and narrow, about 8 to 11 centimeters (3 to 4 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters wide. They have about seven clear lines running along them.

Who Discovered the Girringun Wattle?

The Girringun wattle was officially named and described in 2006. A botanist named Leslie Pedley was the first to formally describe this plant. He wrote about it in a scientific paper called Notes on Acacia Mill. (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae), chiefly from Queensland, which was published in the journal Austrobaileya.

Where Does the Girringun Wattle Grow?

This unique plant is only found in a very small area within Girringun National Park in Queensland, Australia. Specifically, it grows on Bishop Peak, which is south of Cardwell. You can often find it growing on rocky surfaces and cliffs made of granite.