Red-tip wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-tip wattle |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
betchei
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The Red-tip wattle (Acacia betchei) is a cool shrub that grows in eastern Australia. It's a type of plant from the Acacia family, which is known for its beautiful wattle flowers. This plant is special because it's endemic, meaning it only grows naturally in this specific part of the world.
What Does the Red-tip Wattle Look Like?
The Red-tip wattle is usually a shrub that can grow up to about 4 meters (about 13 feet) tall. It has smooth, thin branches that are often a dark red color.
Instead of typical leaves, this plant has special leaf-like parts called phyllodes. These phyllodes are thin and green, and they can be straight or slightly curved. They are usually about 5 to 14 centimeters (2 to 5.5 inches) long and only 2 to 3 millimeters (less than an inch) wide. They have a main vein that is hard to see.
How It Got Its Name
The Red-tip wattle was first officially described by two botanists, Joseph Maiden and William Blakely, in 1927. They published their findings in a science journal. For a short time, it was called Racosperma betchei, but then it was moved back to the Acacia family in 2001. Sometimes, people confuse it with another plant called Acacia adunca.
Where Does It Grow?
You can find the Red-tip wattle growing along the high lands (called tablelands) of the Great Dividing Range. This area stretches from north-eastern New South Wales, near a place called Torrington, all the way up to south-eastern Queensland, around Dalveen. It likes to grow in sandy soils that have a lot of granite rock, usually as part of forest areas.
