Merrall's wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Merrall's wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
merrallii
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Merrall's wattle (Acacia merrallii) is a type of shrub. It is also known simply as a wattle. This plant belongs to the large group of plants called Acacia. You can find it growing naturally in the southern and southwestern parts of Australia.
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About Merrall's Wattle
This shrub usually grows to be about 0.3 to 2 meters (1 to 7 feet) tall. It can spread out to be 2 to 3 meters (7 to 10 feet) wide. Merrall's wattle can look dense, rounded, or spread out. Its small branches often have tiny, straight, or slightly curved hairs.
Like most Acacia plants, it has special leaf-like parts called phyllodes. These are not true leaves. The phyllodes are thick and smooth. They are grey-green and shaped like an oval or a long rectangle. Sometimes, they can be egg-shaped. Each phyllode is about 8 to 25 millimeters long and 5 to 17 millimeters wide. They often have a slightly wavy edge. You might see a faint main vein and clear edges.
Flowers and Seeds
Merrall's wattle blooms from August to October. It produces bright yellow flowers. The flowers grow in small clusters called inflorescences. These clusters are found on short stems, usually with one to three flower heads. Each flower head is round, about 4 to 5 millimeters across. They contain 22 to 35 golden-colored flowers.
After the flowers, seed pods form. These pods are shaped like a bow or are irregularly coiled. They can be up to 2 centimeters long and 2 to 3 millimeters wide. The pods are dark brown to black and feel thin but tough. Inside, the seeds are lined up lengthwise. Each seed is about 2.5 millimeters long. They have a bright orange part attached called an aril.
How Merrall's Wattle Got Its Name
A botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller first officially described this plant. He did this in 1890. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. He wrote about it in a publication called Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales.
Later, in 2003, another botanist named Leslie Pedley reclassified it. This means he put it into a different plant group. But in 2006, it was moved back to the Acacia group. Other names for this plant that were used in the past are Acacia merrallii var. merrallii and Acacia dubia. These are called synonyms.
Where Does Merrall's Wattle Grow?
Merrall's wattle grows naturally in two parts of Australia.
Western Australia
In Western Australia, you can find it in the Goldfields-Esperance and Wheatbelt regions. It often grows on flat areas, in low-lying spots, and near salt lakes. It likes sandy clay, sandy, loamy, or lateritic soils. In Western Australia, it grows from Wubin in the northwest to Pingrup in the southwest. It also reaches as far east as Madura.
South Australia
It is also found in South Australia. Here, it grows along the coast of the Nullarbor Plain. Its range extends to Moonta in the northeast and Maitland in the southeast, on the Yorke Peninsula.
Growing Merrall's Wattle
You can buy Merrall's wattle from plant nurseries. People plant it as an ornamental plant. This means it's grown for its beauty. It's a good choice for areas that don't need much care.
It can be planted as a smaller shrub under taller plants. It also works well in mixed gardens. People use it along roadsides or in the middle strips of roads. It can act as a wind-break, a natural barrier, or help stop soil from washing away (called erosion control).
This plant can be grown near the coast or in hills or plains. It needs full sun or some shade. It can handle dry periods (drought) and some moderate frosts. Plus, it attracts both birds and insects!
