Hakea orthorrhyncha explained

Hakea orthorrhyncha, commonly known as bird beak hakea, is a shrub which is endemic to the Murchison River area of Western Australia.

Description

Hakea orthorrhyncha has a spreading habit, growing to between NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall with a similar spread. The bright red flowers appear in axillary clusters in the leaf nodes on older growth along the branches from early winter to early spring. Leaves vary, they may be needle-like or flat and sometimes forked, curved or straight ending in a sharp point between NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long. Smooth woody fruit are either egg-shaped or elliptic NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and 2sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first described in 1868 by botanist Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the specific epithet orthorrhyncha which is derived from the Greek orthos "straight" and rhynchos "beak"^[4] alluding to the straight beak on the seed capsules. The common name, bird beak hakea, is presumed to be a confusion between the Greek words for straight and bird.

There are two varieties of the species, based on differing foliage characteristics:

• Hakea orthorrhyncha var. filiformis F.Muell. ex Benth. has a spreading rounded growth habit to 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 high, finely textured needle-like dark green leaves often divided up to 160sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long with a groove on the underside of the leaf.^[5] This variety grows in the Murchison River to Mingenew area.^[6]
• Hakea orthorrhyncha F.Muell. var. orthorrhyncha rounded shrub to 1.5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 has flat long and narrow leathery leaves NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and 140sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long.^[5] This variety is confined to the northern sandplains of the Kalbarri region.^[6]

Distribution and habitat

Hakea orthorrhyncha grows on the Geraldton sand plains on grey sand, loam and granite.

Notes and References

1. Book: Wilson . Annette . Flora of Australia (Volume 17B) . 1999 . ABRS . Canberra . 111–112 . 31 October 2019.
2. Book: Holliday . Ivan . Hakeas:A Field and Garden Guide . 2005 . Reed New Holland . 1-877069-14-0.
3. Web site: Hakea orthorrhyncha . Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) . 6 July 2024 .
4. Book: Francis Aubie Sharr . Francis Aubie Sharr . Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, Western Australia . 9780958034180 . 267.
5. Book: Young . J A . Hakeas of Western Australia:A Field and Identification Guide . J A Young . 0-9585778-2-X.
6. Web site: Hakea orthorrhyncha . South Australian Government . 6 July 2024.