Sea urchin hakea | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Proteales |
Family: | Proteaceae |
Genus: | Hakea |
Species: | H. petiolaris |
Binomial name | |
Hakea petiolaris | |
Occurrence data from AVH |
Hakea petiolaris, commonly known as the sea-urchin hakea, [1] 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 petiolaris grows as an erect shrub or tree up to 9 m (30 ft) in height. The leaves have a distinctive pale-grey colour and are 5.5–15 cm (2–6 in) long and 2.5–6 cm (1–2 in) wide. The flowers are arranged in groups that appear on small branches or in the forks of branches. The groups are roughly spherical and contain 120 to 200 individual flowers. Each flower is 1.4–1.8 cm (0.6–0.7 in) long and white or cream in colour with the perianth, (the non-reproductive part of the flower) ranging in colour from pink to purple. Flowering is followed by woody seed capsules which are 2–3.5 cm (0.8–1 in) long and 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) wide. Each capsule splits into valves and releases 2 dark brown or black winged seeds. [1]
Hakea petiolaris was first described by Carl Meissner in 1845, using a collection made at York by Ludwig Preiss. [2] The specific epithet (petiolaris) is derived from the Latin word petiolus meaning "small, slender stalk". [3] : 751 The Latin epithet petiolaris refers to the leaves presentation on conspicuous stalks. [4]
There are three subspecies, differing in the sizes of their leaves and the colour of the perianth as it ages. [4]
All three subspecies of H. petiolaris are listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [7] [10] [16]
The species is propagated from seed, establishing itself as a large shrub, or a tree to around ten metres, the width is around two metres. The horticultural applications include use as a screening plant or hedge, or displayed as individual specimens. It is a fast growing and hardy species, frost resistant, bird attracting and has good potential as a feature plant.
Hakea petiolaris is recommended for the attractive appearance of its flowers and attraction for birds. Clusters of dullish red flowers, contrasted by white styles, are presented at the leaf axis in the austral autumn or winter. The plant is successfully grown in the urbanised sub-coastal regions of southern Australia. [18]
The most common subspecies in cultivation is H. petiolaris subsp. trichophylla. [4]
The presentation of flowers at the stem (cauliflory) may be a relictual characteristic of a time when tall forest dominated the region and pollinators such as birds moved within the dense leaf canopy of under-storey species. [19]
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 salicifolia commonly known as the willow-leaved hakea, is species of flowering plant that is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an adaptable, fast growing small tree or shrub with attractive foliage and cream white flowers.
Hakea cygna, commonly known as the swan hakea, is usually a dense shrub endemic to Western Australia with creamy-white upright flowers appearing from July to August.
Hakea amplexicaulis, commonly known as prickly hakea, is a shrub endemic to south west Western Australia. An attractive small shrub with unusual stem clasping, sharply serrated foliage and a profusion of sweetly scented variable coloured flowers from late winter to spring.
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 decurrens, commonly known as bushy needlewood, is a species of shrub or small tree in the family Proteaceae.
Hakea cristata, commonly known as the snail hakea, is a shrub in the family Proteaceae native to Western Australia. An ornamental prickly shrub with attractive foliage and creamy white rounded flowers appearing in profusion in the winter months.
Hakea laevipes is a shrub in the family Proteaceae. A widespread species found growing on coastal and tableland locations mainly in eastern New South Wales, with scattered populations in south-eastern Queensland.
Hakea pandanicarpa is a shrub species in the family Proteaceae. It is endemic to south-west Western Australia.
Pimelea rosea, commonly known as rose banjine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Thymelaeaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with narrowly elliptic leaves, and clusters of pale pink to reddish-purple flowers surrounded by 4 egg-shaped involucral bracts.
Hakea ceratophylla, commonly known as the horned leaf hakea, is a shrub in the family) Proteaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a stiff shrub with variably-shaped leaves that are sometimes lobed and flowers with white or rusty-coloured hairs.
Hakea cyclocarpa, commonly known as the ram's horn, wild bean or curved-fruit hakea is a shrub in the family Proteaceae. A strongly scented species with large creamy-white flowers with a red style and interesting fruit. Native to an area along the west coast and south west regions of Western Australia.
Hakea elliptica, commonly known as the oval-leaf hakea, is a shrub in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. A fast growing adaptable species with ornamental wavy leaves, golden bronze new growth and an abundance of showy white flowers. A good wildlife habitat due to its dense form with foliage to ground level.
Hakea erecta is a shrub in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a dense rounded shrub with linear twisted leaves and up to 24 pink or white fragrant flowers appearing in leaf axils in spring.
Hakea recurva, commonly known as jarnockmert, is a flowering shrub or small tree in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to an area in the Mid West, northern Wheatbelt and the Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia. It has creams-white to yellow flowers and thick, prickly, curved leaves.
Hakea stenophylla is a shrub or tree in the family Proteaceae, with sweetly scented creamy-white flowers. It is endemic to Western Australia.
Hakea leucoptera subsp. leucoptera, commonly known as silver needlewood, needlewood, needle bush, needle hakea or kulua, is a shrub or small tree with cylinder-shaped leaves and with flowers which have a covering of white, woolly hairs on the flower stalks. It is found in western New South Wales, north-western Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory. It grows in grassland, shrubland and woodland.
Hakea leucoptera subsp. sericipes is a small tree with cylinder-shaped leaves and clusters of up to forty-five white fragrant flowers. It is found in northwestern New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
Hakea recurva subsp. recurva is a plant in the family Proteaceae endemic to the south-west of Western Australia.
Daviesia hakeoides is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with many tangled stems, scattered sharply-pointed phyllodes and yellow or orange and dark red flowers.