Hakea meisneriana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hakea meisneriana |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hakea
|
| Species: |
meisneriana
|
 |
|
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The Hakea meisneriana is a type of shrub. It belongs to the Proteaceae plant family. This plant grows only in Western Australia. It has small, creamy white flowers. These flowers are full of nectar. They grow in groups on the upper branches. You can see them bloom from August to November.
Contents
What Does Hakea meisneriana Look Like?
This plant is a tall, open shrub. It looks a bit like a broom. It usually grows from 1 to 3 meters (about 3 to 10 feet) tall. The bark is smooth and grey. Its branches grow upwards.
The leaves are a sage green color. They are stiff and can be 3 to 14 centimeters (about 1 to 5.5 inches) long. Each leaf has 10 small grooves along its length. They end in a sharp point. The leaves are smooth and about 1 to 1.5 millimeters wide. They are shaped like a hexagon when you look at them from the end.
The flowers grow in single groups. Each group has about 36 to 44 white or cream-colored flowers. They appear where the leaves meet the small branches. The flower stalk is smooth. The flower parts are cream-white. The central part of the flower, called the pistil, is 8 to 10.5 millimeters long.
After the flowers, small fruits grow. They are slightly curved and oval-shaped. These fruits grow in groups of 1 to 4. They are on a thick stem. Each fruit is about 0.9 to 1.9 centimeters long. They are 0.6 to 1.2 centimeters wide. The fruit tapers to a point that breaks easily.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Hakea meisneriana was first officially described in 1855. A scientist named Richard Kippist wrote about it. His description was published in a science journal.
The plant was named to honor Carl Meisner. He was a Swiss botanist. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. Carl Meisner described many different types of Hakea plants.
Where Does It Grow?
This plant is found only in certain parts of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area. It grows in the Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance regions. You can find it from Dalwallinu to Coolgardie. It also grows south to Dumbleyung and Norseman.
It likes sandy, loamy, and gravelly soils. Often, it grows on sandplains. You might find it near or on top of a type of rock called laterite.
Is It Safe?
The Hakea meisneriana is currently considered "not threatened." This means it is not in danger of disappearing. The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of its status.
