Summer-scented wattle facts for kids

The Summer-scented wattle (Acacia rostellifera) is a special type of tree or small shrub. It's also sometimes called the skunk tree because of its smell. This plant belongs to the Fabaceae family, which is a big group of flowering plants that includes peas and beans.

Quick facts for kids Summer-scented wattle
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Clade:	Mimosoideae
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	A. rostellifera
Binomial name
Acacia rostellifera Benth., 1842
Occurrence data from AVH
Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist.

Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".

Where the Summer-Scented Wattle Lives

The summer-scented wattle is a plant that is endemic to Western Australia. This means it only grows naturally in this part of the world. You can find it along the west coast, as far north as Kalbarri. It also grows along the south coast, reaching as far east as Israelite Bay. This plant prefers to live in a coastal area called the Southwest Australia savanna ecoregion.

How the Summer-Scented Wattle Grows and Reproduces

The summer-scented wattle usually grows new plants from suckers. These are new shoots that grow from its underground stems. Because it grows this way, the plant often forms very thick groups. These thickets can become so dense that other types of plants can't grow there.

Size and Bushfires

This wattle can grow quite tall, up to 10 metres (about 33 feet). This makes it the tallest Acacia species in its area. However, you don't often see plants taller than 3 metres (about 10 feet). This is because bushfires happen often where it lives. When a fire burns the plants, they are usually burned right down to the ground. But don't worry! The underground stems are very strong and quickly grow new shoots after a fire.