Hakea
Encyclopedia
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s and small tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s in the Proteaceae
Proteaceae
Proteaceae is a family of flowering plants distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae they make up the order Proteales. Well known genera include Protea, Banksia, Embothrium, Grevillea,...
, native to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. They are found throughout the country, with the highest species diversity being found in the south west
Southwest, Western Australia
The Southwest is a loosely defined area in the southwest corner of Western Australia. Various regionalisations have provided formal definitions of the area, but these do not coincide.* For the drainage division, see Southwest corner of Western Australia...
of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
They can reach 1–6 m in height, and have spirally arranged leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
2–20 cm long, simple or compound, sometimes (e.g. H. suaveolens) with the leaflets thin cylindrical and rush
Juncaceae
Juncaceae, the rush family, are a monocotyledonous family of flowering plants. There are eight genera and about 400 species. Members of the Juncaceae are slow-growing, rhizomatous, herbaceous plants, and they may superficially resemble grasses. They often grow on infertile soils in a wide range...
-like. The flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are produced in dense flowerheads of variable shape, globose to cylindrical, 3–10 cm long, with numerous small red, yellow, pink, purple, pale blue or white flowers.
Hakeas are named after Baron Christian Ludwig von Hake, the 18th century German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
patron of botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, following Heinrich Schrader
Heinrich Schrader (botanist)
Heinrich Adolf Schrader was a German botanist and mycologist. He studied medicine early in life. He named the Australian plant genus Hakea in 1797.Schrader was elected a corresponding member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1815....
's description of Hakea teretifolia
Hakea teretifolia
Hakea teretifolia, commonly known as the Dagger Hakea, is a species of woody shrub of the Proteaceae family common on heathlands in coastal Eastern Australia from Northern New South Wales through to Victoria and Tasmania...
in 1797.
It is now beginning to become accepted that Grevillea
Grevillea
Grevillea is a diverse genus of about 360 species of evergreen flowering plants in the protea family Proteaceae, native to Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Sulawesi. It was named in honour of Charles Francis Greville. The species range from prostrate shrubs less than 0.5 m tall to trees...
is paraphyletic
Paraphyly
A group of taxa is said to be paraphyletic if the group consists of all the descendants of a hypothetical closest common ancestor minus one or more monophyletic groups of descendants...
with respect to Hakea. It is likely, therefore, that Hakea may soon be transferred into Grevillea.
Classification
Hakeas are closely related to the genus GrevilleaGrevillea
Grevillea is a diverse genus of about 360 species of evergreen flowering plants in the protea family Proteaceae, native to Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Sulawesi. It was named in honour of Charles Francis Greville. The species range from prostrate shrubs less than 0.5 m tall to trees...
and Finschia, both members of the subfamily Grevilleoideae
Grevilleoideae
Grevilleoideae is a subfamily of the Proteaceae family of flowering plants. Mainly restricted to the southern hemisphere, it contains around 44 genera and about 950 species. Genera include Banksia, Grevillea and Macadamia.-Description:...
within the family Proteaceae. Many species have similar inflorescences, but hakeas can be distinguished by their woody seed pods.
Horticulture
Hakeas are popular ornamental plantOrnamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
s in garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s in Australia, and in many locations are as common as grevilleas and banksias. Several hybrids and cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s have been developed. They are best grown in beds of light soil which is watered but still well drained.
Some showy western species, such as Hakea multilineata, H. francisiana and H. bucculenta
Hakea bucculenta
Hakea bucculenta is a large shrub in the Proteaceae family that is indigenous to the area between Shark Bay and Geraldton in Western Australia...
, require grafting
Grafting
Grafting is a horticultural technique whereby tissues from one plant are inserted into those of another so that the two sets of vascular tissues may join together. This vascular joining is called inosculation...
onto hardy stock such as Hakea salicifolia
Hakea salicifolia
Hakea salicifolia commonly known as the Willow-leaved Hakea, is indigenous to New South Wales and Queensland. It is a fast-growing shrub which grows up to 5m tall with leaves that can grow up to 12 cm long. New growth on the Willow-leaved Hakea has a pleasant rose colouring...
for growing in more humid climates, as they are sensitive to dieback
Phytophthora cinnamomi
Phytophthora cinnamomi is a soil-borne water mould that produces an infection which causes a condition in plants called root rot or dieback. The plant pathogen is one of the world's most invasive species and is present in over 70 countries from around the world.- Life cycle and effects on plants :P...
.
Many species, particularly (but not always) Eastern Australian species, are notable for their hardiness, to the point they have become weedy. Hakea gibbosa
Hakea gibbosa
Hakea gibbosa, commonly known as the Hairy Hakea or Rock Hakea, is a shrub of the Proteaceae family native to southeastern Australia. It has become an environmental weed in South Africa, where it had been introduced for use as a hedge plant, and New Zealand....
, H. sericea
Hakea sericea
Hakea sericea, commonly known as Needlebush or Silky Hakea, is a large species of shrub native to Australia. It is native to New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania but is found outside these states. It grows up to as a spreading and bushy shrub, flowering from winter to early spring.H...
and H. drupacea
Hakea drupacea
Hakea drupacea, commonly known as Sweet Hakea, is a shrub which is native to south west Western Australia.-Description:Sweet Hakea is erect in habit, growing to between 1 and 4 metres tall. It has white flowers which appear between early autumn and early winter...
(previously H. suaveolens) have been weeds in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Hakea laurina
Hakea laurina
Hakea laurina is a plant of Southwest Australia that is widely cultivated and admired. The species is often referred to as Kodjet, Pincushion Hakea, and Emu Bush...
has become naturalized around Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, and Hakea salicifolia
Hakea salicifolia
Hakea salicifolia commonly known as the Willow-leaved Hakea, is indigenous to New South Wales and Queensland. It is a fast-growing shrub which grows up to 5m tall with leaves that can grow up to 12 cm long. New growth on the Willow-leaved Hakea has a pleasant rose colouring...
, Hakea gibbosa
Hakea gibbosa
Hakea gibbosa, commonly known as the Hairy Hakea or Rock Hakea, is a shrub of the Proteaceae family native to southeastern Australia. It has become an environmental weed in South Africa, where it had been introduced for use as a hedge plant, and New Zealand....
and Hakea sericea
Hakea sericea
Hakea sericea, commonly known as Needlebush or Silky Hakea, is a large species of shrub native to Australia. It is native to New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania but is found outside these states. It grows up to as a spreading and bushy shrub, flowering from winter to early spring.H...
are invasive weeds in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Species
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Hakea lorea Hakea lorea, commonly known as bootlace oak or cork tree, is a species of shrub or small tree in the family Proteaceae found in central and northern Australia.... (Corkwood, Witinti) Hakea macraeana 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... (Willow Needlewood) Hakea minyma Hakea minyma is a species of shrub that is native to Australia. It has a rounded habit, usually growing to between 1.2 and 3 metres with long, narrow leaves. Cream or pink flowers are produced in axillary racemose inflorescences between August and November in its native range.The species was first... Hakea myrtoides Hakea myrtoides or Myrtle Hakea is a shrub endemic to the woodlands of the Darling Range near Perth in Western Australia.It grows to between 0.3 and 0.9 metres in height and has pink flowers that appear in winter and early spring followed by small woody seed capsules that are less than 1 cm... (Myrtle Hakea) Hakea nodosa Hakea nodosa, commonly known as Yellow Hakea, is a shrub which is native to Australia.-Description:Sweet Hakea is erect in habit, usually growing to about 3 metres tall and a similar width... (Yellow Hakea) Hakea ochroptera Hakea ochroptera is a species of shrub that is native to eastern Australia. The species was first formally described by South Australian botanist Bill Barker in 1996. Found near Dorrigo in northern New South Wales, it was separated from the similar species H. macraeana.... Hakea orthorrhyncha Hakea orthorrhyncha, commonly known as Bird Beak Hakea, is a shrub which is endemic to the Murchison River area of Western Australia.... (Bird Beak Hakea) Hakea pachyphylla Hakea pachyphylla is a shrub which is endemic to the Blue Mountains in New South Wales in Australia.It grows from 0.3 to 2 metres in height and has yellow flowers that appear in axillary clusters in spring. These are followed by globose to obovoid warty capsules which are approximately 3 cm long... Hakea petiolaris Hakea petiolaris, commonly known as the Sea-urchin Hakea, is a shrub or small tree which is endemic to the south west of Western Australia in a range between Wongan Hills and Hyden usually associated with granite outcrops and hills.... (Sea-urchin Hakea) Hakea platysperma Hakea platysperma, commonly known as the Cricket Ball Hakea or Woody Peach, is a shrub of the Proteaceae family native to south western Western Australia. It is most notable for its large woody fruit which are used in the cut flower industry, and resembling cricket balls gives the species its... (Cricket Ball Hakea, Talking Women, Woody Peach) Hakea prostrata Hakea prostrata is a species of shrub that is native to the south-west of Western Australia. Plants grow to between 1 and 3 metres in height and have leaves with prickly edges... (Harsh Hakea) Hakea purpurea Hakea purpurea is a shrub which is endemic to Queensland and New South Wales in Australia.It grows to about 1 to 3 metres in height and has reddish-purple flowers that appear in spring. These are followed by ovoid woody seed capsules which are approximately 1.5 cm wide... Hakea rugosa Hakea rugosa, commonly known as the wrinkled hakea, is a shrub of the Proteaceae family native to Australia. it was first described in 1810 by botanist Robert Brown.... (Dwarf hakea, Wrinkled Hakea) Hakea salicifolia Hakea salicifolia commonly known as the Willow-leaved Hakea, is indigenous to New South Wales and Queensland. It is a fast-growing shrub which grows up to 5m tall with leaves that can grow up to 12 cm long. New growth on the Willow-leaved Hakea has a pleasant rose colouring... (Willow-leaved Hakea) Hakea scoparia Hakea scoparia is a shrub which is endemic to shrubland in south-west Western Australia.It grows up to 3 metres in height and has pinkish-cream coloured flowers in axillary clusters which appear from autumn to early spring followed by woody seed capsules which are approximately 2 cm long... Hakea sericea Hakea sericea, commonly known as Needlebush or Silky Hakea, is a large species of shrub native to Australia. It is native to New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania but is found outside these states. It grows up to as a spreading and bushy shrub, flowering from winter to early spring.H... (Needlebush) Hakea teretifolia Hakea teretifolia, commonly known as the Dagger Hakea, is a species of woody shrub of the Proteaceae family common on heathlands in coastal Eastern Australia from Northern New South Wales through to Victoria and Tasmania... (Dagger Hakea) Hakea tephrosperma Hakea tephrosperma, commonly known as Hooked Needlewood, is a shrub or small tree species in the family Proteaceae. It grows to 8 metres high and has terete leaves that are 2 to 9 cm long and 1 to 1.6 mm wide... (Hooked Needlewood, Striped Hakea) Hakea trifurcata Hakea trifurcata is a perennial shrub, endemic to south-west Western Australia.... (Two-leaf Hakea) Hakea undulata Hakea undulata is a species of shrub that is native to south west Western Australia. It is also naturalised in South Australia. Plants are erect and often straggly in habit, growing to between 1 and 2 metres in height and has leaves with scalloped edges... (Wavy-leaved Hakea) Hakea ulicina Hakea ulicina is a shrub in the family Proteaceae, native to Australia. It is erect in habit, growing to between 2 and 5 metres tall. It has long, narrow leaves which are 3 to 18 cm long and 1 to 4 mm wide... Hakea victoria Hakea victoria, with common names Royal Hakea and Lantern Hakea, is a shrub which is native to Western Australia and noted for its ornamental foliage.-Description:... (Lantern Hakea, Royal Hakea) |
External links
- The Hakea Page: index Association of Societies for Growing Australian PlantsAssociation of Societies for Growing Australian PlantsThe Australian Native Plants Society is a federation of seven state-based member organizations for people interested in Australia's native flora, both in aspects of conservation and in cultivation....