Hakea megalosperma

Hakea megalosperma, commonly known as Lesueur hakea,[2] is a shrub of the genus Hakea native to a small area along the west coast in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. It is a small shrub with sweetly fragrant white or pink flowers, darkening as they age to red and thick egg-shaped bluish-green leaves.

Hakea megalosperma

Declared rare (DEC)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Hakea
Species:
H. megalosperma
Binomial name
Hakea megalosperma
Occurrence data from AVH

Description

Hakea megalosperma is a low spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 1 to 2 metres (3 to 7 ft) and up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) wide and does not form a lignotuber. The leaves are bluish-green, egg-shaped or narrowly obovate, tapering to the base, 3.7–8.2 cm (1.5–3.2 in) long and 11–27 mm (0.43–1.06 in) wide with a rounded apex ending with a point 0.1 mm (0.0039 in) long. The leaves have a mid-vein, smooth margin and end sometimes with a curling apex. The inflorescence consists of white-cream or pink strongly scented flowers, darkening to red as they age on smooth stem 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long. The smooth pedicels are 3.5–4.5 mm (0.14–0.18 in) long, perianth 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and smooth, the pistil 7–8.5 mm (0.28–0.33 in) long. The large fruit are elliptical to egg-shaped 7–8.5 cm (2.8–3.3 in) long, 3.5–4 cm (1.4–1.6 in) wide with darker small blister like protuberances on the surface and ending with two pointed horns 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long. Flowering occurs from May to June.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Hakea megalosperma was first formally described by Carl Meisner in 1855 and the description was published in Hooker's Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Miscellany.[5][6] The specific epithet megalosperma is derived from the Greek "referring to the large seeds".[3]

Distribution and habitat

Lesueur hakea is a rare and endangered species growing on lateritic sand plains in low heathland from Jurien Bay to Mount Lesueur Western Australia.[4]

References
  1. "Hakea megalosperma". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  2. Young, Jennifer (2006). Hakeas of Western Australia: A Field and Identification Guide. J.A. Young. ISBN 0-9585778-2-X.
  3. Holliday, Ivan (2005). Hakeas a Field and Garden Guide. Reed New Holland. ISBN 1-877069-14-0.
  4. Barker, Robyn M.; Haegi, Laurence A.; Barker, William R. (1999). Flora of Australia Volume 17B Proteaceae 3 Hakea to Dryandra. ABRS-Commonwealth of Australia. ISBN 0-643-06454-0.
  5. "Hakea megalosperma". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  6. "Hooker's Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Miscellany". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
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