- Acacia paradoxa
Taxobox
name = "Acacia paradoxa"
regnum =Plantae
divisio =Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Fabales
familia =Fabaceae
subfamilia =Mimosoideae
genus = "Acacia "
species = "A. paradoxa"
binomial = "Acacia paradoxa"
binomial_authority = DC.
synonyms = "Acacia armata" R.Br."Acacia paradoxa"cite web |url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=ACACIA+PARADOXA|title="Acacia paradoxa" |accessdate=2008-04-03|work=
Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database|publisher = Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra] is a plant in theFabaceae family. Its common names include kangaroo thorn, prickly wattle, and paradox acacia. This is a largeshrub up to 3 meters tall and wide. It is dense with foliage; the leaves are actually enlarged petioles known as phyllodes. They are crinkly and the new ones are covered in hairs. The bush is also full of long spines. It flowers in small, bright yellow spherical flower heads and the fruits are brown pods 4 to 7 centimeters long.The spiny 'stipulles' which grow at the base of the phyllodes deter livestock from feeding on or too close to the plant.
Kangaroo Thorn is widely spread across Australia, regenerating from seed after disturbances such as bush fire. Small birds including wrens use this plant as shelter and dwelling, while it is relied upon as a food source for moths, butterfiles and other insects, and birds feed on its seeds.
This plant is native to Australia but has been introduced to other continents. In the United States, kangaroo thorn is a well-known
noxious weed in California.References
External links
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ACPA8 USDA Plants Profile]
* [http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ipc/weedinfo/acacia.htm EncycloWeedia Profile]
* [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Acacia+paradoxa Photo gallery]
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