Hakea newbeyana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hakea newbeyana |
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| Hakea newbeyana growing near Lake King | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hakea
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| Species: |
newbeyana
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Hakea newbeyana is a type of shrub that belongs to the Proteaceae plant family. It grows only in certain parts of Western Australia, especially in the southern Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance areas. This plant is quite prickly and has smooth grey bark. In spring, it produces many lovely, sweet-smelling cream and yellow flowers.
Contents
About the Hakea Newbeyana Plant
Hakea newbeyana is a tough, rounded shrub that spreads out. It usually grows to be about 1 to 4 meters (3 to 13 feet) tall. Its branches are smooth and grey, growing upwards. This plant does not have a lignotuber, which is a woody swelling at the base that helps some plants regrow after a fire.
Leaves and Branches
The smaller branches are covered with soft, flat hairs that look rusty in color. The leaves are dark green and stiff, shaped like needles. They are about 2.5 to 7.5 centimeters (1 to 3 inches) long and 1 to 2.2 millimeters wide. Each leaf is straight or slightly curved and ends in a very sharp point, about 1 to 3 millimeters long.
Flowers and Fruit
The small, sweet-smelling flowers are creamy-white and yellow. They grow in groups where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower cluster sits on a rough stalk that is 1 to 4 millimeters long. The flowers have overlapping protective leaves called bracts, which are about 4 to 4.5 millimeters long.
The smooth yellow part of the flower, called the perianth, is 2 to 3 millimeters long. The pistil, which is the female part of the flower, is 3.8 to 4.5 millimeters long. This plant flowers from September to October. After flowering, it produces large, grey, egg-shaped fruits. These fruits are smooth but have darker, blister-like bumps on their surface. They also narrow down to a small, blunt beak.
Plant Naming and History
Hakea newbeyana was officially described for the first time in 1990. This description was made by a botanist named Robyn Mary Barker. She published her findings in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. The plant was named to honor Kenneth Newbey, who was another important botanist from Western Australia.
Where Hakea Newbeyana Grows
This plant is found in the central and eastern parts of the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. It prefers to grow in sandy loam soils or in gravelly soils that contain laterite. You can also find it in the woodlands around the Hyden and Newdegate areas.
Conservation Status
The Western Australian Government has classified Hakea newbeyana as "not threatened." This means the plant is not currently at risk of disappearing.
