Royal Hakea
Hakea victoria on West Mount Barren
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Hakea
Species:
H. victoria
Binomial name
Hakea victoria

Hakea victoria, commonly known as royal hakea and lantern hakea,[2] is a shrub endemic to Western Australia and noted for its ornamental foliage. The Noongar name for the plant is Tallyongut.[3]

Description

Hakea victoria has an erect slender growth habit growing to 1–3 m (3 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in) high and 1 m (3 ft 3 in) wide with few branches and does not form a lignotuber. The leaves are arranged alternately, with distinct veins on the upper and under side, 4–11.5 cm (1.6–4.5 in) long and 4–13 mm (0.16–0.51 in) wide. The leaves are rough and leathery, the margin wavy with prickly teeth and ending with a sharp point. The lower leaves are green and narrow, the upper leaves are broad, concave, more or less circular, yellow at the base and shading to green at the apex. The inflorescence is a cluster of 26-42 small cream-white, red or pink flowers in leaf axils that are almost obscured by the leaf shape. The smooth pedicel is 6–11 mm (0.24–0.43 in) long, pistil 33–37 mm (1.3–1.5 in) long and the perianth cream coloured. Flowering occurs from June to October. The woody fruits are about 25 mm long and between 15 and 20 mm wide.[4][5][6][7]

Taxonomy and naming

The type specimen of Hakea victoria was collected near West Mount Barren (located in what is now Fitzgerald River National Park) by botanist James Drummond and was first described by him in 1847 in The Inquirer newspaper.[8] The specific epithet is named in honour of Queen Victoria by the naturalist John Gilbert.[6][9]

Distribution and habitat

Royal hakea grows in quartzitic or lateritic sand mostly in rocky locations in the coastal region between Albany and Esperance, including the Fitzgerald River National Park.[4][5]

Cultivation

The species requires a well-drained, sunny situation and will tolerate moderate frost. Plants are not suited to humid conditions; even if they survive, foliage colour will be poor. Propagation is easy by seed, but quite difficult from cuttings.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Hakea victoria". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Hakea victoria". redbreastplants. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Noongar names for plants". kippleonline.net. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Hakea victoria". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. ^ a b Barker, Robyn M.; Barker, William R.; Haegi, Laurence A. (1999). Flora of Australia Vol 17B Proteacea 3 Hakea to Dryandra. Australian Biological Resource Study. ISBN 0-643-06454-0.
  6. ^ a b Young, Jennifer A. (2006). Hakeas of Western Australia:A Field and Identification Guide. J A Young. ISBN 0-9585778-2-X.
  7. ^ Holliday, Ivan (2005). Hakeas a Field and Garden Guide. Reed New Holland. ISBN 1-877069-14-0.
  8. ^ "Hakea victoria". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Hakea victoria". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 30 July 2011.
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