Acacia

Australia · trees · pea family · golden flowers

Over 1,000 species. There are about 1,084 different kinds of acacia around the world. Most of them live in Australia, but you can also find acacias in New Guinea, Southeast Asia, and around the Indian Ocean.

Part of pea family. Acacias belong to the Fabaceae family, the same plant family as peas and beans. This makes them relatives of some of the foods you eat at dinner.

Traveled from Africa. Acacias originally came from Africa, South America, and Australasia (the region including Australia, New Zealand, and nearby areas). Over time, they spread to many other parts of the world.

Shrubs or trees. Acacias can be either small shrubs (bushy plants close to the ground) or tall trees. They're super adaptable and can live in many different environments.

Known as wattles. In Australia, acacia trees are often called wattles, and they're so important to the country that they appear on Australia's national emblem.