Water wattle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Water wattle
Scientific classification
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	provincialis
Occurrence data from AVH

The Water Wattle (also called swamp wattle, wirilda, or perennial wattle) is a type of tree or shrub. Its scientific name is Acacia provincialis. This plant is part of the Acacia family. It grows naturally in southern and southeastern Australia.

What Does the Water Wattle Look Like?

The Water Wattle is a tall, straight plant. It can grow up to 10 metres (32.8 ft) (about 33 feet) high. It has a full, bushy top. Usually, it has one main trunk. Sometimes, it can have several trunks growing from the ground. The bark on its trunk is smooth and grey.

Its branches often hang down. They are reddish-brown and can look a bit flat or angled. They sometimes have a white, powdery coating. The leaves of the Water Wattle are called phyllodes. They are smooth and can be blue-green or grey-green. They are long and thin, measuring 7 to 22 cm (2.8 to 8.7 in) (about 3 to 9 inches) long. They are only 3 to 15 mm (0.12 to 0.59 in) (about 0.1 to 0.6 inches) wide.

The Water Wattle blooms all year, but mostly from September to January. Its flowers grow in round clusters. Each cluster has between 18 and 50 small, golden or pale yellow flowers. After the flowers, long, brown seed pods appear. These pods can be up to 16 cm (6.3 in) (about 6 inches) long and 5 to 17 mm (0.20 to 0.67 in) (about 0.2 to 0.7 inches) wide. The pods feel like firm paper. Inside, there are dark brown or black seeds. These seeds are 4 to 6 mm (0.16 to 0.24 in) (about 0.16 to 0.24 inches) long.

Where Does the Water Wattle Grow?

The Water Wattle is found only in certain parts of Australia. It grows naturally on Kangaroo Island, the Fleurieu Peninsula, and the Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia. It also grows in many parts of eastern and central Victoria.

You can often find this plant in wet areas. It likes to grow near swamps and creeks. It can grow in sandy, clay, or loamy soils. In Victoria, most Water Wattles are found between the Glenelg River and near Melbourne. They often grow in open forests where the soil does not drain well. These areas are usually far from the coast. Some Water Wattles have also been found on King Island and near Launceston in Tasmania.