Hakea varia

Last updated

Hakea varia
Hakea varia - Flickr - Kevin Thiele.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Hakea
Species:
H. varia
Binomial name
Hakea varia

Hakea varia, commonly known as the variable-leaved hakea, [2] is a shrub of the family Proteacea and endemic to Wheatbelt, South West, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia. It is a dense prickly shrub with creamy-white or yellow flowers and variable shaped leaves.

Contents

Description

Hakea varia is an erect or spreading shrub typically growing to a height of 1 to 4 metres (3 to 13 ft) and 3 m (9.8 ft) wide and forms a lignotuber. The branchlets and young leaves have flattened, densely matted silky hairs, quickly becoming smooth. The stiff leaves may be variable on the one plant, needle-shaped, simple, more or less elliptic, egg-shaped, toothed, 1–4 cm (0.39–1.57 in) long and 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) wide. All variations of leaves always end in a sharp point 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long. The inflorescence consists of 16-36 sweetly scented white-cream or yellow showy flowers in axillary clusters. The inflorescence stalk is 2.5–4 mm (0.098–0.157 in) long with coarse longish hairs. The over-lapping bracts are 4.5 mm (0.18 in) long and inner bracts rust coloured. The pedicels are 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long and the pistil 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long. The perianth 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.138 in) long and white. Flowering occurs from July to November and the ovoid fruit are small, coarse, warty, or smooth, 1.5–2 cm (0.6–0.8 in) long, usually under 1 cm (0.4 in) wide, and ending with an outward curving sharp horn 3.5 mm (0.14 in) long. [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy and naming

Variable-leaved hakea was first formally described by Robert Brown and published the description in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London . [6] [7] Named from the Latin varius - variable referring to the many differing leaf shapes. [3] [5]

Distribution and habitat

Hakea varia is a widespread species growing from north of Perth around the coast to Augusta and Esperance. Prefers winter wet situations on sand, clay, loam and gravel. A frost tolerant species favouring a sunny or shady aspect. A dense prickly shrub good for wildlife habitat. [3] [4]

Conservation status

Hakea varia is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>Hakea corymbosa</i> Species of plant of the family Proteaceae endemic to the south-west 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.

<i>Hakea cygna</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to Western Australia

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.

<i>Hakea sericea</i> Species of plant

Hakea sericea, commonly known as bushy needlewood or silky hakea, is a large shrub with a profusion of mainly white flowers from July for several months. It is endemic to eastern Australia. It has become an environmental weed in some countries.

<i>Hakea trifurcata</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to the south-west of Western Australia

Hakea trifurcata, commonly known as two-leaf, two-leaved hakea, or kerosene bush, is a shrub, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The species has two leaf forms, needle-like or oblong egg-shaped. Unlike most hakea species the fruit remain green at maturity and resemble the broader leaf form. The mimicry creates a camouflage, reducing predation of the seed by granivores in particular cockatoos.

<i>Hakea rugosa</i> Species of shrub of the family Proteaceae native to Australia

Hakea rugosa, commonly known as wrinkled hakea or dwarf hakea, is a shrub of the family Proteaceae native to Australia. It has sharp needle-shaped leaves and white or cream fragrant flowers in profusion from August to October.

<i>Hakea verrucosa</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to south-west Western Australia

Hakea verrucosa is a flowering plant in the family Proteaceae that is endemic to south-west Western Australia. It has large white, deep pink or red pendulous flowers with stiff needle-shaped leaves.

<i>Hakea commutata</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae native to Western Australia

Hakea commutata is a shrub in the family Proteaceae native to Western Australia. A variable species in shape and growing requirements, including mallee heath, sand and along creek lines.

<i>Hakea circumalata</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae native to Western Australia

Hakea circumalata is a shrub in the family Proteaceae native to an area in the Wheatbelt and Mid West regions of Western Australia. A small shrub producing a profusion of strongly scented pink to red flowers in dense clusters from July to September.

<i>Hakea conchifolia</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae native to Western Australia

Hakea conchifolia, commonly known as the shell-leaved hakea is a shrub in the family Proteaceae native to an area in the west coast of the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. An attractive small species with unusual rigid leaves that encircle the flowers.

<i>Hakea costata</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae native to Western Australia

Hakea costata, commonly known as the ribbed hakea, is a shrub in the family Proteaceae native to Western Australia. A multi-stemmed small shrub producing attractive pink or white brush-like blooms rich in nectar from July to October.

<i>Hakea erecta</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to Western Australia

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 ilicifolia is an open shrub or tree in the family Proteacea and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small, dense shrub with stiff, lobed leaves and clusters of yellow or creamy-white flowers.

Hakea tuberculata is a flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to several isolated areas along the coast in the Peel, South West, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia. It is an upright shrub with white flowers and rigid, prickly leaves.

<i>Hakea newbeyana</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to Western Australia

Hakea newbeyana is a shrub in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to an area in the southern Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia. It is a prickly shrub with smooth grey bark and sweetly scented cream-yellow flowers in profusion in spring.

<i>Hakea obliqua</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to Western Australia

Hakea obliqua, commonly known as needles and corks, is a shrub in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to an area in the Wheatbelt, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia.

<i>Hakea recurva</i> Species of plant in the family Proteaceae endemic to Western Australia

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.

<i>Hakea smilacifolia</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteacea endemic to Western Australia

Hakea smilacifolia is a shrub in the family Proteacea. It has sweetly scented flowers, stiff leathery leaves and is endemic to an area in the Mid West, western Wheatbelt and the Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia.

<i>Hakea strumosa</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteacea endemic to Western Australia

Hakea strumosa is a shrub in the family Proteacea endemic to an area in the Wheatbelt, Great Southern and the Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia. A dense, very prickly shrub with a profusion of small, deep pink or red flowers in spring.

<i>Hakea sulcata</i> Species of plant in the family Proteaceae endemic to Western Australia

Hakea sulcata, commonly known as furrowed hakea, is a flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a prickly shrub with grooved, cylindrical leaves, sweetly-scented flowers and relatively small fruit.

Lasiopetalum angustifolium, commonly known as narrow leaved lasiopetalum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to coastal areas of south-western Western Australia. It is a low spreading or dense, compact shrub with narrowly egg-shaped to narrowly elliptic leaves and compact groups of pink to purplish flowers.

References

  1. "Hakea varia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Hakea varia". Western Australia-FloraBase. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Young, J A. Hakeas of Western Australia:A Field and Identification Guide. J A Young. ISBN   0-9585778-2-X.
  4. 1 2 Holliday, Ivan (2005). Hakeas:A Field and Garden Guide. ISBN   1-877069-14-0.
  5. 1 2 "Hakea varia". eFlora South Australia. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  6. "Hakea varia". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  7. Brown, Robert. "Hakea varia". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 23 July 2019.