Synonymy

Hakea neurophylla Meisn., Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 7: 117 (1855)

T: Swan River Colony [Dandaragan to Champion Bay], W.A., s.d. [1850–51], J.Drummond 6: 195; syn: BM, G-DC, K, LD, MEL, NY, OXF, P, PERTH; possible syn: B p.p.

Description

Erect shrub, 0.6–2 m tall, non-sprouting. Branchlets glabrous by flowering. Leaves obovate to elliptic, sometimes undulate, 5–11.2 cm long, 16–43 mm wide, narrowly cuneate at base, entire, acute to acuminate; longitudinal veins 3 above and below; secondary veins reticulate, equally or less conspicuous.

Inflorescence solitary with 12–18 flowers; pedicels glabrous. Perianth pale to deep pink. Pistil 9–10.5 mm long; gland vestigial or absent.

Fruit obliquely ovate, 3–4 cm long, 1.5–1.9 cm wide, obscurely beaked, with a dorsal longitudinal ridge on each valve. Seed obliquely ovate, c. 28 mm long; wing extending narrowly and partly down one side of body only, blackish brown.

Distribution and ecology

Rare and restricted to the Mt Lesueur–Eneabba area north of Perth, W.A.; grows in heathland in sand over laterite, usually near ridge tops.

To plot an up to date distribution map based on herbarium collections for this species see Australia's Virtual Herbarium. Localities outside the native range may represent cultivated or naturalised records.

Flowering time

Flowers Aug.

Derivation of name

From neuron, Greek for nerve and phyllon, Greek for leaf, a reference to the prominent veins in the leaf of this species.

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Relationships

Part of the Conogynoides group recognised by Bentham and characterised by a conical pollen presenter, veined leaves, glabrous perianth and fruits without horns.

Within this section 12 species were assigned to the informal Undulata group by Barker et al. (1999). This group of Hakea species was combined morphologically because they all have simple flat leaves with 3-7 prominent longitudinal veins, 10-40 small flowers (with 3-10.5 mm long pistils) and decurved woody fruits.

Members of the group are H. ambigua, H. anadenia, H. dactyloides, H. elliptica, H. falcata, H. ferruginea, H. hastata, H. laevipes, H. loranthifolia , H. neurophylla, H. plurinervia and H. undulata , from the eastern states and from SW WA. The newly described H. oligoneura (Nuytsia 19: 254 (2009) from the SW coast of WA belongs with this group.

Notes

Among other characters H. neurophylla is distinguished by its vestigial or absent gland. Unlike most other Hakea species, the fruit usually remain closed after the branch dies and on herbarium specimens.

Conservation status

In Western Australia denoted as Priority Four - Rare: taxa which are considered to have been adequately surveyed and which, whilst being rare (in Australia), are not currently threatened by any identifiable factors. These taxa require monitoring every 5–10 years.

Atkins, K.J. (2008). Declared Rare and Priority Flora List for Western Australia , 26 February 2008. (Dept of Environment and Conservation. Como , W.A.).

Representative specimens

W.A.: E summit of Mt Lesueur, C.A.Gardner 9079 (PERTH); 32 km S of Eneabba on Coorow–Leeman road, 15 Aug. 1987, E.McCrum s.n. (CANB, PERTH).

Weblinks

Link to FloraBase treatment of this species for WA.

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Further illustrations

I. Holliday, Hakeas. A Field and Garden Guide 138-9 (2005)

J.A..Young, Hakeas of Western Australia. A Field and Identification Guide 75 (2006)