| Emu tree | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Hakea |
| Species: | H. francisiana |
| Binomial name | |
| Hakea francisiana | |
 | |
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Hakea francisiana, commonly called the emu tree, [2] grass-leaf hakea [3] or bottlebrush hakea, [4] is a shrub or tree of the genus Hakea native to Western Australia [2] and South Australia. [3]
The non-lignotuberous shrub or tree with an open habit typically grows to a height of 3 to 8 metres (9.8 to 26.2 ft) [2] and has a v-shaped canopy and rough bark. [4] The evergreen linear leaves are up to a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) and a width of around 3 millimetres (0.118 in). [3] It blooms from July to October and produces pink-red flowers. [2] The flowers appear in large racemes that can be as large as 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in length. The flowers occur in the leaf axils during winter and spring. The colour of the flowers is red or reddish purple but the type that was once known as H.coriacea is mostly cream flowered with a pink middle. After flowering woody seed pods form that are around 20 mm (0.79 in) in length which hold two winged seeds. The pods will shed the seeds in particular conditions such as following a bushfire. It is very similar to Hakea bucculenta and Hakea multilineata . [3]
The species was first formally described by the botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1858 as part of the work Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae . The only synonyms are Hakea grammatophylla, Hakea coriacea, Hakea multilineata, Hakea multilineata var. graminea and Hakea multilineata var. grammatophylla. [5]
The specific epithet honours George William Francis, who was the first director of the Adelaide Botanic Garden, from 1857 to 1865. [3] [6]
It is endemic to an area in the Wheatbelt, Mid West and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia from Geraldton in the west to Wiluna in the north to Lake Grace in the south and the Great Victoria Desert in the east extending into western parts of South Australia where it is found on sand-plains growing in sandy-clay, loam or clay soils often with gravel and quartz present. [2] It is usually part of mallee woodland and shrubland communities. [3]
It requires a full sun position and needs minimal watering. It is useful as an ornamental or as habitat for birds and bees. The plant is tolerant of drought, lime and moderate to light frost. It is sometimes grafted onto hardier rootstock. [4]
Hakea is a genus of about 150 species of plants in the Family Proteaceae, endemic to Australia. They are shrubs or small trees with leaves that are sometimes flat, otherwise circular in cross section in which case they are sometimes divided. The flowers are usually arranged in groups in leaf axils and resemble those of other genera, especially Grevillea. Hakeas have woody fruit which distinguishes them from grevilleas which have non-woody fruit which release the seeds as they mature. Hakeas are found in every state of Australia with the highest species diversity being found in the south west of Western Australia.
Hakea myrtoides, commonly known as myrtle hakea, is a shrub endemic to the woodlands of the Darling Range near Perth in Western Australia.
Hakea petiolaris, commonly known as the sea-urchin hakea, is a shrub or small tree with cream-coloured and pink or purple flowers and woody fruit. It is endemic to the south west of Australia, occurring at the coastal plain, jarrah forest and wheatbelt regions, often at the ancient granite outcrops of Western Australia.
Hakea corymbosa, commonly known as the cauliflower hakea is a plant of the family Proteaceae which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. An attractive extremely prickly bush with sweetly scented yellowish flowers. The nectar rich blooms and dense form provides a good habitat for wildlife.
Hovea elliptica, commonly known as the tree hovea or karri blue bush, is an ornamental plant in the family Fabaceae that is native to Western Australia. This plant was cited as Hovea Celsi in Description des plantes rares cultivees a Malmaison et a Navarre by Aimé Jacques Alexandre Bonpland.
Hakea clavata, commonly known as coastal hakea is a shrub that is endemic to an area along the south coast of Western Australia. It has thick leaves, pink and grey flowers and grows on rocky outcrops.
Hakea macraeana, commonly known as the willow needlewood or Macrae's hakea, is a species of shrub native to eastern Australia. The species was first formally described by botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1886 in the Australian Journal of Pharmacy. The species name honours one George Macrae, who aided the original collector William Baeuerlen.
Hakea leucoptera, commonly known as silver needlewood, needle hakea, pin bush or water tree and as booldoobah in the Koori language, is a shrub or small tree with rigid, cylindrical, sharply pointed leaves and white, cream-coloured or yellow flowers in late spring and early summer. It is widespread and common in central parts of the Australian mainland.
Eucalyptus odontocarpa, commonly known as Sturt Creek mallee, is a mallee that is native to northern Australia. Indigenous Australians know the plant as Warilyu.
Acacia iteaphylla, commonly known as Flinders Range wattle, Port Lincoln wattle, winter wattle and willow-leaved wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to South Australia.
Acacia microbotrya, commonly known as manna wattle or gum wattle, is a shrub or tree belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is native to Western Australia.
Acacia calcicola is a shrub or tree of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves that is native to parts of central Australia. Common names for this species include; shrubby wattle, shrubby mulga, myall-gidgee, northern myall and grey myall. Indigenous Australians the Pitjantjatjara peoples know the tree as ikatuka, the Warlpiri know it as jirlarti and the Arrernte know it as irrakwetye.
Acacia oswaldii, commonly known as boree, umbrella wattle, umbrella bush, whyacka, middia, miljee, nella and curly yarran, is a shrub or tree of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves.
Hakea falcata, commonly known as sickle hakea, is a shrub in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to southern Western Australia. It has narrow egg-shaped leaves, cream flowers and blooms in spring.
Hakea invaginata is a shrub in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has purplish-pink flowers, smooth needle-shaped leaves and the branchlets are thickly covered in hairs.
Hakea kippistiana is a shrub in the family Proteaceae and endemic to Western Australia. It is a dense prickly shrub with sharp needle-shaped leaves with fragrant white, cream or pink flowers from November to February.
Hakea lasianthoides is a shrub or tree in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has creamy-white flowers, mostly linear leaves and flowers from September to November.
Hakea lasiocarpha, commonly known as long styled hakea, is a shrub in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has about 30 whitish flowers in clusters in the upper leaf axils, rigid prickly leaves and a limited distribution.
Hakea multilineata, commonly known as grass-leaved hakea, is a shrub in the family Proteaceae. It is endemic to an area in the Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia. It has pink to red long racemes in upper leaf axils and leathery linear leaves.
Hakea nitida, commonly called the frog hakea or shining hakea, is a shrub of the family Proteaceae and is endemic to an area in the southern Wheatbelt, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia.