Hamilton's wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hamilton's wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
hamiltoniana
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Hamilton's wattle, also known as Acacia hamiltoniana, is a type of shrub. It belongs to the Acacia family, which is a large group of plants. This wattle is found naturally in eastern Australia.
What Hamilton's Wattle Looks Like
This shrub usually grows up to 3 m (9.8 ft) tall. It has a bushy shape with smooth, dark red branches that have fine ribs. Its leaves are actually flattened leaf stalks called phyllodes. These phyllodes are smooth and green. They usually grow upwards or straight.
The phyllodes can look a bit different from one plant to another. They are often long and thin, or shaped like a narrow oval. They are about 3 to 8 cm (1.2 to 3.1 in) long and 2 to 5 mm (0.079 to 0.197 in) wide. They become narrower at their base.
Hamilton's wattle usually blooms between August and September. It produces round flower heads that are golden in color. Each flower head has about 9 to 15 flowers packed closely together. After the flowers, black seed pods grow. These pods can be up to 5.5 cm (2.2 in) long and 1 cm (0.39 in) wide. Inside the pods are shiny black seeds. The seeds are usually oval or egg-shaped and measure about 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 in) long.
How Hamilton's Wattle Got Its Name
The first official description of Hamilton's wattle was made in 1920. A botanist named Joseph Maiden described it in a scientific paper. Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley reclassified it. However, in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group.
The plant's scientific name, hamiltoniana, honors Arthur Andrew Hamilton. He was the person who collected the first official sample of this plant. He found it near Leura in 1907. This first sample is called the type specimen.
Where Hamilton's Wattle Grows
Hamilton's wattle grows in eastern Australia. You can find it in the Great Dividing Range and the hills nearby. It grows in western New South Wales. Its range stretches from around Rylstone in the north down to the Clyde River in the south.
This shrub prefers sandy or loamy soils. It is often found in areas with heathland or Eucalyptus woodland. You can also spot it on and around sandstone rocks. It thrives in dry sclerophyll forest and heathland environments.
