Grey whorled wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grey whorled wattle |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
adoxa
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The Acacia adoxa, often called the grey-whorled wattle, is a special plant found in northern Australia. It belongs to the legume family, just like peas and beans! This plant gets its name because its leaves grow in cool, circular patterns, like little green pinwheels.
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What it Looks Like (Description)
This wattle usually grows as a low, spreading shrub. It typically reaches a height of about 0.7 to 1.2 meters (2.3 to 3.9 feet). Its stems can be very smooth, which botanists call glabrous, or they might have tiny, upright hairs. Small, thin leaf-like parts called stipules grow near the base of the leaves. These are quite small, only about 0.8 to 1.2 millimeters long.
The most unique part of the Grey Whorled Wattle is its leaves, which are called phyllodes. These phyllodes grow in groups called whorls, with six to ten leaves in each circle. Each phyllode is flat or slightly curved and measures about 2 to 5 millimeters long.
This plant produces bright yellow flowers from April to October. The flowers grow in round clusters, known as globular flower-heads. Each flower-head is made up of 25 to 35 individual flowers. After the plant flowers, it forms seed pods that are attached directly to the stem (this is called sessile). These pods are about 25 to 60 millimeters long and 6 to 7 millimeters wide. Inside the pods, you'll find oblong seeds, each around 4 millimeters long.
How it was Named (Taxonomy)
The Grey Whorled Wattle was first officially described in 1972 by a botanist named Leslie Pedley. He wrote about it in a scientific paper. Later, in 2003, Leslie Pedley moved the species to a different plant group, calling it Racosperma adoxum. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group, where it remains today.
Where it Grows (Distribution and Habitat)
You can find the Grey Whorled Wattle growing in areas with red sand soils, ironstone gravel, and stony plains. In Western Australia, it grows in many different regions. These include the Central Kimberley, Dampierland, Gascoyne, Great Sandy Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara and Tanami areas. It is also found in the central western parts of the Northern Territory.
Interestingly, you can find edible grubs living among the roots of this plant. Also, ants often collect and store the seeds of the Grey Whorled Wattle.
Different Types (Varieties)
Just like there can be different types of apples (like Granny Smith or Fuji), some plants have slightly different versions called varieties. The Grey Whorled Wattle has two known varieties:
- A. adoxa var. adoxa
- A. adoxa var. subglabra
