Hando's wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hando's wattle |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
handonis
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| Where Hando's Wattle grows in Australia | |
Hando's wattle, also known as Percy Grant wattle, is a special type of shrub. It belongs to the Acacia family, which includes many different wattles. This plant grows naturally in parts of northeastern Australia. Since 2008, Hando's wattle has been listed as a vulnerable species. This means it needs protection because its numbers are low. This protection comes from the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Contents
What Does Hando's Wattle Look Like?
Hando's wattle is a slender shrub. It usually grows to be about 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6 feet) tall and wide. Its branches have fine ribs and tiny, scattered hairs.
Unique Leaves of the Wattle
Like most Acacia plants, Hando's wattle does not have true leaves. Instead, it has structures called phyllodes. These phyllodes are like flattened leaf stems that do the job of leaves. They stay green all year round.
The phyllodes are crowded together and stand upright. They are usually straight but sometimes curve slightly at the tip. Each phyllode is about 6 to 18 millimeters (0.2 to 0.7 inches) long. They are very thin, only about 0.4 millimeters (0.01 inches) wide. When they dry, you can see two faint lines running along them.
Flowers and Seed Pods
Hando's wattle produces bright yellow flowers. These flowers bloom between July and September. The flowers grow in round, ball-shaped clusters. Each cluster has about 30 bright yellow flowers.
After the flowers bloom, seed pods begin to form. These pods are narrow and oblong, growing up to 4 centimeters (1.6 inches) long. They are about 3 to 4 millimeters (0.12 to 0.16 inches) wide. The pods have raised, tough sections on their outer parts. Inside the pods, the seeds are arranged lengthwise. Each seed is about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) long and has a special fleshy attachment called an aril.
Where Does Hando's Wattle Live?
Hando's wattle grows in a small area in southeastern Queensland, Australia. It is found north of Chinchilla, in a place called Barakula.
Habitat and Environment
This shrub prefers hilly areas, often on stony ridges. It grows in sandy or clay soils that contain laterite. Sometimes, there is also ironstone gravel in the soil. Hando's wattle grows as part of open Eucalyptus woodland communities.
Population and Conservation
Hando's wattle is found in only one main population. This population is located in the Barakula State Forest. It is within the area where the Condamine River flows. The total area where these plants grow is about 28 hectares (69 acres).
In 1994, experts estimated there were about 10,080 individual plants. Out of these, about 4,200 were mature plants, and the rest were younger plants. These plants were spread across three separate groups. The number of plants in each group varied a lot. Sadly, none of these plants are currently found in protected conservation areas.
