Hakea constablei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hakea constablei |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hakea
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| Species: |
constablei
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| Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
The Hakea constablei is a special kind of shrub or small tree. It grows naturally in eastern Australia. This plant is part of the Proteaceae family, which has many interesting Australian plants. It's easy to spot because of its many white or cream-colored flowers that appear in spring.
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What Does Hakea Constablei Look Like?
The Hakea constablei is a neat, rounded shrub or a small tree. It can grow from about 1.8 to 6 meters (6 to 20 feet) tall. Its leaves are bright green and look like needles, but they aren't very prickly. Each leaf is usually between 3 and 11 centimeters (1 to 4 inches) long.
This plant produces lovely cream-white flowers. They bloom from September to November on the stems from the year before. Each group of flowers has about 6 to 12 individual blooms. The flower parts are cream-white and about 3 to 4.2 millimeters long.
After the flowers, large, rounded fruits grow. These fruits are about 4.3 to 5.5 centimeters (1.7 to 2.2 inches) long and 3 to 3.5 centimeters (1.2 to 1.4 inches) wide. They have a dark grey surface covered with bumpy spots. The fruit also has small horn-like bumps. Inside, there are dark brown seeds, about 2.7 to 3.7 centimeters (1.1 to 1.5 inches) long, with a wing on one side.
How Did Hakea Constablei Get Its Name?
The Hakea constablei was first found in 1899. However, the plant sample was accidentally mixed up with another type of Hakea. Because of this, it was not properly studied until 1950.
In 1950, a plant collector named E.F. Constable found the species again. He collected it near the Blue Mountains in Australia. He then brought it to the attention of plant experts at the Sydney Herbarium.
The plant was officially described in 1962 by a botanist named Lawrence Alexander Sidney Johnson. He published its description in a scientific paper. The plant's specific name, constablei, was chosen to honor Ernie Constable. He was a seed and plant collector for the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. He collected many plants in New South Wales, including the very first sample of this species that was properly identified.
Where Does Hakea Constablei Grow?
The Hakea constablei is a plant that is endemic to a specific area. This means it only grows naturally in that one place. You can find it in parts of the Blue Mountains and the Wollondilly area in New South Wales, Australia.
It likes to grow among elevated sandstone rocks. It is usually found as part of sclerophyll forest communities. These are types of forests where the plants have hard, tough leaves to help them survive dry conditions.
Is Hakea Constablei Rare?
Yes, the Hakea constablei is considered a rare plant. It has a special conservation code, ROTAP 2RCa. This code helps scientists track plants that are not very common. It means that the plant is not currently in danger of extinction, but it is rare and needs to be watched to make sure its numbers don't drop too low.
