Hakea nitida

Frog hakea
Hakea nitida growing in the Nuytsland Nature Reserve
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Subfamily: Grevilleoideae
Genus: Hakea
Species: H. nitida
Binomial name
Hakea nitida

Hakea nitida, commonly called the frog hakea or shining hakea,[1] is a shrub of the genus Hakea native to an area in the southern Wheatbelt, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia.[2]

Hakea nitida habit (cultivated specimen)

Description

The erect non-lignotuberous shrub typically grows to a height of 1 to 3 metres (3.3 to 9.8 ft). It blooms from July to September and produces white-cream and yellow flowers. The plant has glabrous branchlets that are not glaucous. The flat rigid leaves are subpetiolate with a narrowly elliptic to obovate shape. Leaves are 1.5 to 9 centimetres (0.6 to 3.5 in) in length and 10 to 30 millimetres (0.4 to 1.2 in) wide and narrowly cuneate. Inflorescences are axillary or terminal on short shoots with 16 to 36 flowers. These form obliquely ovate fruit, 2.5 to 3.5 centimetres (1.0 to 1.4 in) long and 1.5 to 2.5 centimetres (0.6 to 1.0 in) wide. The fruit are black-pusticulate, with horns approximately 6 millimetres (0.24 in) long. Seeds are narrowly obovate with wings broadly down one side of seed body, narrowly down other.[3] The seed pods resemble warty toads or frogs giving the plant the unusual common name, the Frog Hakea.[4]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described by Robert Brown in 1810. [2] Named from the Latin nitidus - shining, referring to the usually glossy leaf.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Hakea nitida grows in southern Western Australia from Busselton to Eucla on sandy-loam, clay and gravel in mallee or heath.[6] An ornamental shrub, a good habitat plant for wildlife.[5]

Conservation status

Hakea nitida is classified as not threatened by the Western Australian Government.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Hakea nitida R.Br. Shining Hakea". The Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Hakea nitida". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  3. ↑ "Hakea nitida factsheet". Government of South Australia. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Hakeas". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 October 1999. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  5. 1 2 Young, J A. Hakeas of Western Australia: A Field and Identification Guide. J A Young. ISBN 0-9585778-2-X.
  6. ↑ Holliday, Ivan. Hakeas:A Field and Garden Guide. Reed New Holland.
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