Photo © W.R.Barker

Synonymy

Hakea acuminata Haegi, Fl. Australia 17B: 396 (1999)

T: north slope of One Tree Hill, S of Ravensthorpe, W.A., 14 July 1979, Pearce s.n.; holo: PERTH; iso: AD.

Hakea sp. 6 (Fitzgerald River; K.Newbey 8265), J.D.Briggs & J.H.Leigh, Rare or Threatened Australian Plants (1995).

Description

Erect densely branched shrub, 0.5–1.8 m tall; resprouting capacity unknown. Leaves alternate in lower parts, almost flat, obovate, almost whorled in flowering parts, concave, narrowly obovate to elliptic, very rigid, 3–10 cm long, 9–38 mm wide, entire or minutely denticulate, gradually acuminate; longitudinal veins prominent, with 1–3 above and below, at base coalescing into a cream patch often turning reddish with age; pinnate veins conspicuous.

Inflorescence with 16–24 flowers; pedicels 5.5–6 mm long, glabrous. Perianth cream-yellow, split to base abaxially only. Pistil 34–37 mm long; gland obovoid.

Fruit 1 or 2 per axil, obliquely ovate, 2.5–3.1 cm long, 1.6–2.1 cm wide, not or shortly beaked, shortly apiculate, becoming corky with age. Seed obliquely ovate, 18–21 mm long, 9–10 mm wide; wing extending down both sides of body, blackish brown, sometimes with paler streaks.

Distribution and ecology

This species has been discovered only in recent years and to date is known from only five localities between Jerramungup and Ravensthorpe near the south coast of W.A. Occurs in shrub-mallee or scrub-heath in deep white sand or loamy sand; apparently rare.

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 have only been recorded for July, but no doubt it flowers either side of this month.

Derivation of name

The epithet acuminata is a reference to the very pronounced acuminate leaf apex of this species.

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Relationships

Part of Sect. Conogynoides recognised by Bentham (1870) and characterised by a conical pollen presenter, veined leaves, glabrous perianth and fruits without horns.

Within this section 5 species were assigned to the informal Corymbosa group by Barker et al. (1999). This group has yet to be tested for monophyly but can be recognised morphologically by whorled, rigid leaves in the flowering branches and erect fruits.

Members of the group are H. acuminata, H. cinerea, H. corymbosa, H. eneabba and H. victoria , all from SW WA.

Notes

The venation of the leaves, whitish involucres and corky follicles of H. acuminata indicate a close relationship to H. victoria , while the almost whorled rigid acuminate leaves and the flowers indicate some affinity to H. corymbosa . It is distinct from both in numerous features.

Conservation status

In Western Australia denoted as Priority Two - Poorly Known: taxa which are known from one or a few (generally <5) populations, at least some of which are not believed to be under immediate threat (i.e. not currently endangered). Such taxa are under consideration for declaration as ‘rare flora’, but are in urgent need of further survey.

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.: 6 km due SSE of junction of Old Ongerup Rd and West River Rd, 4 km N of Fitzgerald River Natl Park boundary, J.M.Fox 152 (CANB); No Tree Hill, Hopetoun area, 14 May 1981, G.J.Keighery s.n. (KPBG); 23 km S of Ravensthorpe, K.Newbey 8265 (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 10-11 (2005)

J.A..Young, Hakeas of Western Australia. A Field and Identification Guide 8 (2006)