Thin-leaf wattle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thin-leaf wattle
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Clade:	Mimosoideae
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	A. aculeatissima
Binomial name
Acacia aculeatissima J.F.Macbr.
Occurrence data from AVH
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The Thin-leaf wattle (Acacia aculeatissima), also called the snake wattle, is a type of shrub. It belongs to a large group of plants called Acacia. This wattle plant grows naturally in parts of eastern Australia.

What the Thin-leaf Wattle Looks Like

This wattle is a small to medium-sized shrub. It can grow upright or spread out low to the ground. It usually reaches a height of 0.3 to 1 m (1 ft 0 in to 3 ft 3 in) (about 1 to 3 feet). Its stems have ridges and are covered with short, stiff hairs.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of the Thin-leaf wattle are special. They are called phyllodes. These phyllodes are thin and prickly. They are about 5 to 12 mm (0.20 to 0.47 in) long and 0.5 to 1 mm (0.020 to 0.039 in) wide. Each phyllode has four veins, which usually bend downwards.

The plant blooms between August and November. During this time, it produces pale yellow flowers. These flowers grow in round clusters. Each cluster has one to three ball-shaped flowers. They appear on their own stalks where the leaves meet the stem.

Seed Pods

After the flowers bloom, narrow seed pods start to form. These pods are either straight or slightly curved. They grow to be about 6 cm (2.4 in) (about 2.4 inches) long.

How Scientists Name This Plant

The Thin-leaf wattle was first officially described in 1919. A botanist named James Francis Macbride gave it its scientific name. He wrote about it in an article called Notes on certain Leguminosae. This article was published in the Contributions of the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University.

Sometimes, plants can have other names that mean the same thing. These are called synonyms. For the Thin-leaf wattle, the only other scientific names used are Acacia tenuifolia and Racosperma aculeatissimum.

Where the Thin-leaf Wattle Grows

This wattle plant is found in two main areas of Australia. It grows in the southwestern part of New South Wales. Here, it is considered quite rare. It is more common in Victoria.

The Thin-leaf wattle often grows in forests where Eucalypt trees are common. It prefers to grow in sandy, loamy clay soils. These soils are usually found over a base of sedimentary rock.