Hakea grammatophylla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hakea grammatophylla |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hakea
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| Species: |
grammatophylla
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Hakea grammatophylla is a special kind of shrub that belongs to the Proteaceae plant family. It grows only in the Northern Territory, Australia. This shrub can be different sizes and has pretty pink to reddish flowers. These flowers usually bloom from March until late winter.
What it Looks Like
Hakea grammatophylla is a small shrub that can grow from about 0.5 to 3.5 meters (1.6 to 11.5 feet) tall. It doesn't have many branches. Its young branches might be covered in soft, flat hairs, which become smoother as the plant gets older.
The leaves are long, flat, and shaped a bit like a narrow egg. They are usually 8 to 20 centimeters (3 to 8 inches) long and 0.4 to 1 centimeter (0.16 to 0.4 inches) wide. You can see 5 to 9 clear lines, or veins, on the leaves.
The flowers are a beautiful red to deep pink and smell nice. They grow in groups of 100 to 150 blooms on a stem that is 2 to 5 centimeters (0.8 to 2 inches) long. This stem is covered with short, soft hairs. Each flower has a smooth stalk (called a pedicel) and bright pink petals (called a perianth). The part of the flower that will become the fruit (the pistil) is about 13 to 16 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long.
Most of the time, you'll see these flowers blooming from March to August. After flowering, the plant produces narrow, smooth fruits that are about 2 to 2.5 centimeters (0.8 to 1 inch) long and come to a point.
Name and History
The plant was first officially described in 1868 by a botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He published his description in a book called Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.
The scientific name grammatophylla comes from two Latin words. Grammatus means "striped with fine lines," and phyllum means "leaf." This name refers to the clear, fine veins you can see on the leaves of the plant.
Where it Grows
Hakea grammatophylla is a rare plant. It is endemic, which means it only grows naturally in one specific area. For this plant, that area is the MacDonnell Ranges in the Northern Territory of Australia.
You can find it stretching from the George Gill Ranges in the west to the White Range in the east. It likes to grow in rocky areas, often in small pockets of soil on slopes or in river gorges.
Why it's Important to Protect It
Because Hakea grammatophylla only grows in a small area, it is considered a rare species. This means it needs to be protected so it doesn't disappear. Scientists Briggs and Leigh noted its rare status in 1995 due to its limited distribution.
