Rudall River myall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rudall River myall |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
auripila
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The Acacia auripila, also known as the Rudall River myall, is a special kind of tree. It belongs to a large group of plants called Acacia, which are often found in Australia. This particular tree grows in a small area in the middle of Western Australia.
What the Rudall River Myall Looks Like
This tree usually grows to about 3 metres (10 ft) tall, which is like a small house. It has many branches that form a thick, round top, and its leaves are a pretty silver-green color. The bark on its trunk is grey and has cracks in it.
Instead of regular leaves, the Rudall River myall has something called phyllodes. These are like flattened leaf stems that do the job of leaves. They are tough and stand upright. Each phyllode is usually straight or a little bit curved, measuring about 8 to 12 cm (3.1 to 4.7 in) long and 1 to 1.5 mm (0.039 to 0.059 in) wide. You can see many thin lines running along them. In August, this tree grows bright yellow flowers.
How Scientists Name This Tree
Scientists have a special way of naming and grouping all living things. This is called taxonomy. The Acacia auripila was first officially described by two botanists, Richard Sumner Cowan and Bruce Maslin, in 1999. They wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia.
Later, in 2003, another scientist named Leslie Pedley decided to put this tree into a different group, calling it Racosperma auripilum. But then, in 2006, scientists decided it fit better back in the Acacia group, so its name went back to Acacia auripila.
Where the Rudall River Myall Grows
This tree is found in a part of Western Australia called the eastern Pilbara region. It likes to grow on hillsides and in small valleys. You can only find it in the Rudall River National Park. Here, it grows among other plants, especially a spiky grass called spinifex, in soil that has lots of quartz gravel.
