Mount Connor wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Connor wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
ammobia
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The Mount Connor wattle (scientific name: Acacia ammobia) is a special type of wattle tree. It grows naturally in the middle of Australia. This plant is quite rare, especially in South Australia and the Northern Territory. When a plant is endemic, it means it only grows in a specific area and nowhere else in the world.
Contents
What it Looks Like
The Mount Connor wattle can be a large bush or a small tree. It usually grows between 2 to 7 meters (about 6 to 23 feet) tall. Its bark is grey to black and has long cracks in it.
The branches start out flat and angled, but they become round as they get older. Its leaves are thin and stand upright. They are about 11 to 20 centimeters (4 to 8 inches) long. They are also about 0.4 to 0.9 centimeters (0.16 to 0.35 inches) wide.
Flowers and Seeds
This wattle plant produces bright yellow flowers. These flowers are shaped like cylinders or spikes. They can be about 2 to 5 centimeters (0.8 to 2 inches) long. After the flowers, the plant grows long, thin seed pods in clusters.
Plant Name and History
The scientific name for a plant helps us identify it clearly. The Mount Connor wattle was first officially described in 1978. A botanist named John Maconochie gave it the name Acacia ammobia. This happened in a scientific paper called Notes on the genus Acacia in the Northern Territory.
Changes to its Name
Later, in 1986, another botanist named Leslie Pedley changed its name to Racosperma ammobium. However, in 2001, it was moved back to the Acacia group. This shows how scientists sometimes change plant names as they learn more.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its scientific name, ammobia, comes from a Latin word. It means "sand dweller." This name makes perfect sense because the Mount Connor wattle loves to grow in sandy places.
Where it Grows
The Mount Connor wattle lives in the dry, inland parts of Australia. It has a small area where it can be found. You can see it in the north-western parts of South Australia. It also grows in the southern areas of the Northern Territory.
Preferred Habitat
This plant often grows on the higher parts of hills and mountain ranges. It likes sandy or gravelly soils. These are the perfect conditions for the Mount Connor wattle to thrive in the Australian outback.
