Hakea longiflora facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hakea longiflora |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hakea
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| Species: |
longiflora
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| Where Hakea longiflora grows in Australia | |
Hakea longiflora is a small shrub that grows only in Western Australia. It's known for its sharp, short, needle-like leaves. When it blooms, it shows off pretty white flowers with a striking red style.
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What Does Hakea longiflora Look Like?
Hakea longiflora is an upright shrub. It usually grows to be about 0.6 to 0.75 meters (2 to 2.5 feet) tall. This plant has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after a fire.
Leaves and Flowers
Its leaves are always green and feel stiff. They are like needles, about 3 to 10 millimeters (0.1 to 0.4 inches) long. Each leaf has two or three tiny segments at the end.
The plant blooms from June to September. It produces lovely yellow flowers. Each flower cluster is simple and usually has two flowers at different stages of opening. The white outer part of the flower, called the perianth, is about 6.5 to 12 millimeters (0.25 to 0.5 inches) long and covered in soft hairs.
Fruits and Seeds
After the flowers, smooth fruits start to form. These fruits have black spots and are shaped like a narrow oval. They are about 18 to 25 millimeters (0.7 to 1 inch) long and 6 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. Each fruit has a long, pointy "beak." Inside, the seeds are shaped like a boomerang and have a wing at one end. They are about 22 millimeters (0.9 inches) long.
How Did Hakea longiflora Get Its Name?
The plant was first officially described in 1990 by a botanist named Robyn Mary Barker. She wrote about it in a scientific paper called New species, new combinations and other name changes in Hakea (Proteaceae).
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its scientific name, longiflora, comes from two Latin words. Longus means "long," and florus means "flower." This name was chosen because its flowers are longer compared to a similar plant, Hakea erinacea.
Where Does Hakea longiflora Grow?
This shrub is found only in a specific area of Western Australia. It grows between the towns of Dandaragan and Coorow. This area is part of the Wheatbelt region.
You can usually find Hakea longiflora growing in sandy, loamy, or gravelly soils. It often grows near rocky outcrops called "breakaways." It prefers low, open heathland areas, especially where there is sandstone. Even though it grows in a small area, it's quite common there.
