 Inflorescences at various stages. Photo © I. Holliday |
Synonymy
Hakea myrtoides Meisn., in J.G.C.Lehmann, Pl. Preiss. 1: 577 (1845)
T: in limoso-arenosis ad flum. Cygnorum, prope villam Cl. Mitchell [Swan R.], W.A., 28 June 1839, L.Preiss 534 (Sem. n. 76); syn: B, BR, CGE (as Preiss 562) p.p., G, G-DC, K p.p., L, LD, LE p.p., M, MEL, MO, NY, P, TCD (as Preiss 562); Swan River colony, W.A., s.d. [1841 or before], J.Drummond 1: 608; syn: BM p.p., G, K, LE p.p., MEL, P.
Description
Sprawling multi-stemmed shrub, 0.2–0.5 m tall, lignotuberous. Branchlets moderately villous and appressed-pubescent at flowering. Leaves elliptic-acuminate to broadly elliptic-acuminate, flat, 1–1.7 cm long, 5–10 mm wide, glabrescent; midvein and marginal veins prominent above and below; secondary veins scarcely visible.
Inflorescence a solitary axillary umbelliform raceme, clustered into subterminal brushes, with 6–10 flowers per axil; pedicels deep pinkish red, glabrous, glaucous. Perianth deep pinkish red. Pistil 13–18 mm long; gland a small flap.
Fruit obliquely broadly ovate, 1–1.1 cm long, 0.6–0.8 cm wide, obscurely beaked. Seed obliquely broadly elliptic, 6–8 mm long; wing narrowly encircling seed body at sides and base, blackish brown, sometimes with paler patches.
Distribution and ecology
Occurs in the coastal plains and Darling Ra. near Perth, W.A., and at a few localities to the north (Calingiri, Dandaragan, Wongan Hills) and east (Youndegin). Grows in lateritic sandy clay soil, often in Eucalyptus wandoo woodland-heath in association with granite outcrops.
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 July–Aug.
Derivation of name
From myrtus, Latin for the myrtle tree; the ending -oides denotes a resemblance to, thus this species is named for its resemblance to the myrtles.
Relationships
Part of the Conogynoides group recognised by Bentham and characterised by a conical pollen presenter, veined leaves, glabrous perianth and fruits without horns. Barker et al. (1999) recognised a number of informal morphological groups within the section.
One of these was the Ulicina group. This group of 21 Hakea species was combined morphologically because they all have simple flat leaves or leaves which are apparently terete but when looked at in cross section are clearly angled; these angled leaves are longitudinally furrowed and often referred to as sulcate. Furthermore the group has inflorescences with 6-80 small flowers (with 3-18 mm long pistils) and erect woody fruits.
Members of the group are H. aenigma, H. carinata, H. costata, H. cygna, H. dohertyi, H. erecta, H. gilbertii, H. invaginata, H. lehmanniana, H. marginata, H. meisneriana, H. mitchellii, H. myrtoides, H. pycnoneura, H. repullulans, H. rigida, H. scoparia, H. stenocarpa, H. sulcata, H. subsulcata and H. ulicina, mostly from southern WA but also from south-eastern Australia.
Notes
W.A.: Gooseberry Hill Natl Park, 18 km E of Perth, M.Crisp 6707 (CANB); c. 6 km N of Calingiri road on Geraldton Hwy, R.J.Garraty 164 (AD, PERTH); Maddington, Darling Ra., 6 Aug. 1904, A.Morrison s.n. (BRI, PERTH).
Representative specimens
W.A.: Gooseberry Hill Natl Park, 18 km E of Perth, M.Crisp 6707 (CANB); c. 6 km N of Calingiri road on Geraldton Hwy, R.J.Garraty 164 (AD, PERTH); Maddington, Darling Ra., 6 Aug. 1904, A.Morrison s.n. (BRI, PERTH).
Weblinks
Link to FloraBase treatment of this species for WA.
Link to the Australian Native Plants Society (
More photographs of this species can be seen on the Australian National Botanic Gardens site.
Further illustrations
A.S.George, Introd. Proteaceae W. Australia pl. 106 (1984);
W.R.Elliot & D.L.Jones, Encycl. Austral. Pl. 5: 219 (1990).
I. Holliday, Hakeas. A Field and Garden Guide 136-7 (2005)
J.A..Young, Hakeas of Western Australia. A Field and Identification Guide 74 (2006)