Silver-stemmed wattle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Silver-stemmed wattle
Scientific classification
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	parvipinnula
Occurrence data from AVH

The Acacia parvipinnula, also known as the silver-stemmed wattle, is a type of Acacia tree. It grows naturally in the eastern parts of Australia.

What Does the Silver-Stemmed Wattle Look Like?

This plant can be a shrub or a tree. It usually grows to be about 2 to 10 meters tall. It stands up straight and has smooth bark that looks silvery or bluish-grey. Its branches are angled and often covered in a fine white powder. They also have tiny hairs.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves are about 0.5 to 1.7 centimeters long. They are also hairy. Each leaf has a main stem, called a rachis, which is about 1.5 to 8 centimeters long. From this main stem, there are 4 to 13 pairs of smaller leaf parts called pinnae. Each pinna is 1 to 5 centimeters long. On these pinnae, there are 13 to 42 pairs of even smaller leaflets called pinnules. These pinnules are narrow and oblong, measuring about 2 to 4 millimeters long and 0.5 to 1 millimeter wide.

The silver-stemmed wattle blooms between April and January. Its flowers grow in round clusters, called flower-heads. These flower-heads are about 4 to 6 millimeters across and have 14 to 20 pale yellow flowers. They grow on stalks that are 2 to 5 millimeters long.

Seed Pods

After the flowers bloom, straight or slightly curved seed pods form. These pods are a bit leathery and have some scattered hairs. They are usually 2 to 17 centimeters long and 5 to 8.5 millimeters wide. The pods are often a little bit squeezed in between the seeds.

Where Does the Silver-Stemmed Wattle Grow?

The silver-stemmed wattle grows in a specific area along the coast of central New South Wales, Australia. You can find it from around Singleton down to the Shoalhaven River. It can grow in many different types of soil and in various natural settings. It is often found in dry sclerophyll forests or woodland areas.