Kimberley ghost wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kimberley ghost wattle |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
spectrum
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The Acacia spectrum, also known as the Kimberley ghost wattle, is a type of shrub. It belongs to the Acacia plant family. This special plant only grows in the dry, northern parts of Western Australia. It's called "ghost wattle" because of its light, wispy look.
What Does the Kimberley Ghost Wattle Look Like?
This shrub usually grows to be about 4 to 6 meters (13 to 20 feet) tall. It has thin stems and branches that hang down a bit. The plant looks open and airy, almost like a ghost. Its branches are smooth and sometimes have a fine, white, powdery coating.
Like most Acacia plants, the Kimberley ghost wattle doesn't have regular leaves. Instead, it has special leaf-like parts called phyllodes. These phyllodes are always green and smooth. They are very long and thin, like a thread, measuring 30 to 60 centimeters (12 to 24 inches) long. They are only about 1.5 to 2 millimeters (0.06 to 0.08 inches) wide. Each phyllode has four yellowish lines running along its length.
How Was This Plant Discovered and Named?
The Acacia spectrum was officially named in 2009. Two botanists, Margaret A. Lewington and Bruce Maslin, gave it its scientific name. They wrote about it in a science paper called Three new species of Acacia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) from the Kimberley Region, Western Australia. This paper was published in a science magazine called Nuytsia.
The first sample of this plant, called a holotype, was collected in 2005. It was found near sandstone cliffs along the Mitchell River. The plant grew in a shrubland area. It was found alongside other plants like Acacia deltoidea, Acacia kelleri, and Grevillea cunninghamii.
Where Does the Kimberley Ghost Wattle Grow?
This unique plant only grows in a small part of the Kimberley region. This area is in northern Western Australia. You can find it in the Mitchell River National Park. There are only two groups of these plants, and they are about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) apart. They grow among sandstone rocks in shallow, sandy soil. They are part of mixed shrubland communities in the park.
