West Wyalong wattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Wyalong wattle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
cardiophylla
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia cardiophylla, commonly known as the West Wyalong wattle or Wyalong wattle, is a special kind of evergreen shrub. This means it keeps its leaves all year round! It grows only in eastern Australia, which makes it endemic to that area.
What the West Wyalong Wattle Looks Like
This shrub usually grows to be about 2 to 3 meters (about 6 to 10 feet) tall. It has leaves that look like feathers, which are called bipinnate leaves. During its flowering time, from July to November, it shows off bright yellow flowers.
The West Wyalong wattle can grow straight up or spread out, and it often has many stems. Its bark is smooth and can be dark grey or a mix of brown colors.
Flowers and Seed Pods
When it blooms, usually between August and November, it produces groups of flowers called inflorescences. These groups have between 6 and 21 flower clusters, which grow along a zig-zag shaped stem. Each of these flower stems is about 1.2 to 6 centimeters long.
The flower-heads are round, like little balls, and are about 3 to 5 millimeters wide. Each one is packed with 20 to 40 bright yellow flowers. After the flowers fade, the plant grows seed pods. These pods are flat and can be straight or slightly curved. They feel like firm paper or thin leather. The pods are hairy and brown, growing to be about 1.5 to 11.5 centimeters long and 4 to 6.5 millimeters wide.
Where the West Wyalong Wattle Grows
The Acacia cardiophylla naturally grows in central and southern New South Wales in Australia. You can find it from Gilgandra in the north, all the way down to Wagga Wagga in the south. It also stretches west to the Lake Cargelligo area.
This wattle likes to grow on stony hills and ridges, in shallow, rocky, sandy soils. It's often found as part of Eucalyptus woodlands and mallee communities. Sometimes, it has also started to grow in new places, like parts of the Central Coast and Southern Tablelands regions, where it has become naturalized.
