Mabels's wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mabel's wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
mabellae
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia mabellae, also known as Mabel's wattle or black wattle, is a type of Acacia plant. It's a shrub or a tree that grows only in eastern Australia. This means it's endemic to that area, so you won't find it growing naturally anywhere else in the world!
What Mabel's Wattle Looks Like
Mabel's Wattle can be a small shrub or a tall tree. It usually grows to be about 3 to 10 metres (10 to 33 ft) (10 to 33 feet) tall. Sometimes, it can even reach up to 20 m (66 ft) (66 feet)!
Its branches are smooth and have angles. The leaves, which are called phyllodes, hang down. These phyllodes are not like typical leaves; they are flattened leaf stalks that do the job of leaves. They are long and narrow, often curved like a sickle, and usually get narrower at both ends. Each phyllode is about 12 to 22 cm (4.7 to 8.7 in) (4.7 to 8.7 inches) long and 7 to 15 mm (0.28 to 0.59 in) (0.28 to 0.59 inches) wide. They also have a clear line running down the middle.
This wattle blooms between August and November. It produces simple flower clusters called inflorescences. These clusters grow in groups of 6 to 16 along a stem. Each round flower-head has about 17 to 20 creamy white flowers.
After the flowers, thin, smooth seed pods grow. These pods are long and narrow, up to 14 cm (5.5 in) (5.5 inches) long and 9 to 11 mm (0.35 to 0.43 in) (0.35 to 0.43 inches) wide. Inside the pods are seeds that are about 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 in) (0.16 to 0.20 inches) long. Each seed has a thick, black covering called an aril.
Why is it Called Mabel's Wattle?
The scientific name for this plant, mabellae, was chosen to honor a person. It is named after Mabel Fanny Cambage. She was the daughter of R.H. Cambage, who was a friend and colleague of Joseph Maiden. Joseph Maiden was the botanist who officially described this plant. Sometimes you might see the name spelled 'mabelliae', but that spelling is not correct.
Where Mabel's Wattle Grows
Mabel's Wattle is found only in a specific part of New South Wales, Australia. It grows on the coastal slopes of the Great Dividing Range. You can find it from around Camden in the north, stretching down to Bermagui in the south.
It likes to grow in sandy soils, often in gullies. It is usually part of open Eucalyptus woodland communities, meaning it grows alongside different types of Eucalyptus trees.
