Tyson's wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tyson's wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
tysonii
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| Where Tyson's wattle grows in Australia | |
Acacia tysonii, also known as Tyson's wattle, is a type of shrub or small tree. It belongs to the Acacia family, which is a large group of plants. This plant is special because it only grows naturally in certain parts of western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
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What Does Tyson's Wattle Look Like?
This plant usually grows straight up, like a tall, thin bush or a small tree. It can reach a height of about 1.5 to 6 meters (5 to 20 feet). Its branches are a bit hairy, and new shoots start out pale yellow. As they get older, they turn a shiny silver color because of tiny hairs covering them.
The leaves of Tyson's wattle are not typical leaves; they are actually flattened leaf stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes are thin, smooth, and have a grey-green color. They are shaped like a narrow oval or rectangle, usually 2 to 4.5 centimeters long and 4 to 10 millimeters wide. You can see a clear line down the middle and along the edges of each phyllode.
Flowers and Seed Pods
Tyson's wattle blooms, or flowers, from June to September. Its flowers are bright yellow. The flowers grow in small clusters, usually two to four groups together. Each group has round flower-heads, and each head contains 25 to 30 bright golden flowers.
After the flowers, smooth, red to dark brown seed pods grow. These pods look a bit like a string of beads. They can be 5 to 10 centimeters long and 8 to 13 millimeters wide. Inside these pods are dull brown seeds, which are round and about 7 to 10 millimeters long.
How Tyson's Wattle Got Its Name
The first time this plant was officially described by a scientist was in 1896. A botanist named Johann George Luehmann gave it its scientific name, Acacia tysonii. He wrote about it in a book called Reliquiae Muellerianae: Descriptions of New Australian Plants in the Melbourne Herbarium.
Later, in 2003, another scientist named Leslie Pedley tried to change its name to Racosperma tysonii. But then, in 2006, it was changed back to its original name, Acacia tysonii. Sometimes, plants get different names as scientists learn more about them!
Where Does Tyson's Wattle Grow?
Tyson's wattle is found in several regions of Western Australia. These areas include the Gascoyne, Mid West, and Goldfields-Esperance regions. It grows in sandy-clay-loam soils, which are a mix of sand, clay, and rich soil. Often, these soils are found over or near limestone or calcrete, which are types of rock.
You can find this shrub scattered across the landscape. It grows from places like Gascoyne Junction and Peak Hill in the north, down to areas around Morawa and Mouroubra in the south. You might even spot some plants near Lake Auld, which is close to the edge of the Great Sandy Desert. It often grows as part of low shrubland communities, which are areas with many small bushes and shrubs.
