Hakea newbeyana explained

Hakea newbeyana is a shrub in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to an area in the southern Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia. It is a prickly shrub with smooth grey bark and sweetly scented cream-yellow flowers in profusion in spring.

Description

Hakea newbeyana is a rigid, spreading, rounded shrub typically growing to a height of 1to with ascending smooth grey branches and does not form a lignotuber. The branchlets are densely covered in flattened rusty-coloured, soft hairs. The rigid dark green leaves are needle-shaped, long, wide, straight to slightly curved and ending in a sharp point long. The 6-8 small, sweetly scented creamy-white and yellow flowers appear in clusters in leaf axils on a coarse rough stalk long. The over-lapping flower bracts are long. The pedicel long and smooth. The smooth, yellow perianth is long and the pistil long. Flowering occurs from September to October. The large, grey, egg-shaped fruit are smooth with darker blister-like pitting on the surface and taper to a small blunt beak.[1] [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Hakea newbeyana was first formally described by Robyn Mary Barker in 1990 and the description was published in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.[3] [4] The species was named in honour of Western Australian botanist Kenneth Newbey.[1]

Distribution and habitat

This species grows in the central and eastern wheatbelt region of Western Australia in sandy loam and lateritic gravelly soils. Also in woodlands of the Hyden-Newdgate district.[2]

Conservation Status

Hakea newbeyana is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Young . J A . Hakeas of Western Australia:A Field and Identification Guide . J A Young . 0-9585778-2-X.
  2. Book: Holliday . Ivan . Hakeas:A Field and Garden Guide . Reed New Holland . 1-877069-14-0.
  3. Web site: Hakea newbeyana . Australian Plant Name Index . 17 November 2019.
  4. Web site: Hakea newbeyana . Online-Journal of Adelaide Botanic Gardens . 17 November 2019.
  5. Web site: Hakea newbeyana . FloraBase . Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions . 17 November 2019.