Hakea megadenia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hakea megadenia |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hakea
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| Species: |
megadenia
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Hakea megadenia is a special type of shrub or small tree. It belongs to the Proteaceae family, which includes many unique Australian plants. You can find this plant only in a specific area: along the east coast of Tasmania and on the Furneaux Islands, which are a group of islands just off Tasmania's coast.
What Does Hakea megadenia Look Like?
Hakea megadenia is usually a bushy shrub that spreads out, or sometimes a small tree. It can grow to be about 2 to 5 meters (6.5 to 16 feet) tall. Its small branches, called branchlets, are covered with lots of flat, soft hairs.
The leaves are a dull green color. They are shaped like needles or are slightly flattened. Each leaf is quite long, from 3 to 13 centimeters (1 to 5 inches), but very thin, only 1 to 2 millimeters wide. They end in a sharp point.
The flowers of Hakea megadenia are white to cream-colored. They grow in groups called inflorescences. On female plants, these groups have 1 to 8 flowers, while male plants have 3 to 14 flowers. These flowers appear from February to July, growing where the leaves meet the stem.
The plant also produces interesting "S" shaped fruits. These fruits are about 1.8 to 2.5 centimeters (0.7 to 1 inch) long and 0.9 to 1.2 centimeters (0.35 to 0.47 inches) wide.
How Hakea megadenia Got Its Name
The scientific name Hakea megadenia was first officially described in 1991. This was done by a scientist named R.M.Barker. She published her findings in a book called Aspects of Tasmanian Botany - a tribute to Winifred Curtis.
The second part of the name, megadenia, comes from two ancient Greek words. "Mega" means "large," and "aden, adenos" means "gland." This name was chosen because this plant has a special, long gland.
Where Hakea megadenia Lives
You can find Hakea megadenia growing naturally in two main places. One is along the east coast of Tasmania. The other is on the Furneaux group of islands, which are located off the coast of Tasmania.
This plant prefers to grow in coastal areas, often near rivers, or in drier forests. On the islands, it can grow at higher elevations. When it grows at these higher spots, its leaves tend to be longer, and its fruits are larger.
