Hakea trineura facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hakea trineura |
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Scientific classification | |
Genus: |
Hakea
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Species: |
trineura
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Hakea trineura is a special kind of shrub from the Proteaceae plant family. It only grows in Queensland, Australia. This plant is known for its large, greenish-yellow flowers that hang down. You can see them blooming from May to September.
Contents
About the Hakea Trineura Plant
What Hakea Trineura Looks Like
This shrub can grow up to 1 to 3 meters (about 3 to 10 feet) tall. It has many stems. It can also regrow from a special woody base called a lignotuber, which helps it survive things like bushfires.
Its young branches and new leaves can be smooth or covered with soft, flat, brown hairs. The leaves grow on a small stem, like a leaf stalk, about 1 to 2.5 centimeters (0.4 to 1 inch) long.
The leaves themselves are shaped like a narrow oval or an egg. They are usually 7 to 20 centimeters (3 to 8 inches) long and 1.3 to 7 centimeters (0.5 to 3 inches) wide. A cool thing about these leaves is that they have three clear lines, or veins, running along them. The leaves get narrower towards the end, which can be sharp or rounded.
Hakea Trineura Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of Hakea trineura are greenish-yellow. About 60 to 80 flowers grow together in a cluster. This cluster can be up to 40 to 70 millimeters (1.6 to 2.8 inches) long. Each flower has a small, smooth, mid-green stalk about 2.3 to 3 millimeters (0.09 to 0.12 inches) long.
The main part of the flower, called the perianth, is deep yellow and 7 to 8.5 millimeters (0.28 to 0.33 inches) long. It can be smooth or have a few hairs when it's still a bud. The pistil, which is the female part of the flower, is mid-green and about 18 to 26 millimeters (0.7 to 1 inch) long.
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces fruit. These fruits are smooth and shaped like an egg, but a bit slanted. They are usually 2 to 4 centimeters (0.8 to 1.6 inches) long and 1.5 to 2 centimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches) wide. They are also slightly curved.
How Hakea Trineura Got Its Name
Naming History
This plant was first officially described in 1868 by a scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He first called it Grevillea trineura. He wrote about it in a book called Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Later in the same year, Mueller changed its name to Hakea trineura.
Meaning of the Name
The name trineura is thought to come from a Greek word. It refers to the three distinct veins found on the plant's leaves.
Where Hakea Trineura Grows
Habitat and Distribution
Hakea trineura is only found in a specific part of Queensland, Australia. It grows in the area between Maryborough and Rockhampton.
You can find this plant growing on hills in Eucalyptus woodlands. These are forests where Eucalyptus trees grow, often with grassy areas underneath. It is a plant that grows quickly in tropical places.
Protecting Hakea Trineura
Conservation Status
Hakea trineura is listed as "vulnerable" by the Australian Department of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. This means that the plant is at risk of becoming endangered or disappearing if we don't protect it. It's important to keep its habitat safe so this unique Australian shrub can continue to thrive.