Hakea acuminata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hakea acuminata |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hakea
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| Species: |
acuminata
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Hakea acuminata is a special kind of shrub that belongs to the Proteaceae plant family. It grows naturally in Western Australia. This plant is quite rare and has pretty clusters of white flowers, sometimes with a touch of green or pink. These flowers bloom in the late autumn and winter.
What it Looks Like
The Hakea acuminata is a bushy shrub with many branches. It can grow between 0.5 to 1.8 metres (1.6 to 5.9 ft) tall and has smooth, grey bark. Its leaves are a shiny, rich green, sometimes with a yellow hint near the bottom. They are mostly flat and can be found in groups on the higher branches where the flowers grow.
The leaves are shaped like a narrow oval or an egg. They are about 3 to 12 centimetres (1.2 to 4.7 in) long and 9 to 38 millimetres (0.354 to 1.496 in) wide. Each leaf has one to three clear lines (called veins) running along it.
This plant produces 16 to 24 flowers in each cluster. These clusters appear where the leaves meet the stem. The flowers are usually cream or pale yellow, but they can turn a light pink as they get older. They bloom from May to October. The flower parts are long and noticeable.
After the flowers, the plant grows woody, egg-shaped fruits. These fruits usually appear alone or in pairs. They are about 25 to 31 mm (1.0 to 1.2 in) long and 16 to 21 mm (0.63 to 0.83 in) wide. As the fruits age, their skin becomes rough like cork. Inside, the seeds are dark brown and egg-shaped. They are about 18 to 21 mm (0.71 to 0.83 in) long and 9 to 10 mm (0.354 to 0.394 in) wide, with a wing on both sides to help them fly away.
How it Got its Name
The plant Hakea acuminata was officially described and named in 1999. A botanist named Laurence Haegi gave it this name. He wrote about it in a big book called Flora of Australia, which lists and describes many plants.
Where it Grows
This special Hakea plant only grows in two small areas in Western Australia. You can find it along the south coast, in regions known as the Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance. It grows between the towns of Ravensthorpe and Jerramungup.
It likes to grow on gently rolling plains where there are small shrubs or heath plants. It prefers to grow in deep white sand or in loamy soils (a mix of sand, silt, and clay) that are on top of granite rock.
Why it's Important to Protect it
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Hakea acuminata a special classification: "Priority Two - Poorly Known." This means it is a rare plant. It is only found in one or a few places. Because it has such a small distribution, it is considered rare or almost threatened. This classification helps make sure people know it needs protection to survive.
