Hakea cycloptera, commonly known as elm-seed hakea, is a shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to South Australia. It is a small spreading shrub with an abundance of pale pink or white flowers from December to August.
Hakea cycloptera is a straggly bush or shrub NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. Smaller branches and young leaves are white and smooth. Needle-shaped leaves are covered with soft silky hairs or are smooth, usually NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide ending in a sharp point NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long. The inflorescence consists of 1-14 white or pale pink flowers and appear in axillary racemes. The flower stem is NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long with flattened white hairs. The smooth pedicels are NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long. The perianth is either pink or white and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long, smooth, bluish-green with a powdery film. The style NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long. The warty or wrinkled fruit are broadly elliptic to circular NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide ending in a coarse short oblique beak.[1] [2] [3] [4]
Hakea cycloptera was named by botanist Robert Brown in 1810 and published in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London.[5] The specific epithet (cycloptera) is derived from the Ancient Greek words kyklos meaning "circle"[6] and pteron for "wing", referring to the shape of the seed wing.[1]
Confined to the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. Grows in sandy soil in mallee scrub and withstands moderate frosts. A useful, dense shrub for dry conditions and wildlife habitat.[2]