Hakea pedunculata

The shrub or small tree is often gnarled and typically grows to a height of 1 to 5 metres (3 ft 3 in to 16 ft 5 in). It has finely fissured dark colored bark and flat leaves that are narrowly to broadly egg shaped and grow to a length of 5 to 10 centimetres (2 to 4 in) and a width of 8 to 20 millimetres (0.31 to 0.79 in). About forty cream-white flowers are arranged in a group on a stalk 6.5–25 mm (0.3–1 in) long, each flower on a slightly rough pedicel 2–10 mm (0.08–0.4 in) long that is covered with white soft hairs. Fruit are obliquely egg-shaped tapering at each end or three dimensional and 2 to 3 cm (0.79 to 1.18 in) long and 1 to 1.2 cm (0.39 to 0.47 in) wide, ending in a short backward curving beak about 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. Hakea pedunculata flowers predominantly from April to August and occasionally in February.[1] The woodiness of Hakea is determined when the fruit ripens and the two valves open displaying a darker and lighter zone. Those species with a greater pale layer tend to retain their seed longer. Hakea pedunculata is unique in the Pedunculata group for its fruit woodiness and swampy habitat.

Hakea pedunculata was first formally described by Ferdinand von Mueller in 1883 from a specimen collected by a druggist, W. Anthony Persieh, from a specimen collected near Endeavour River.[2][3][4] Hakea persiehana was named in his honour by Mueller in 1886.[1] The specific epithet (pedunculata) is derived from the Latin word pedunculus meaning "a small, slender stalk",[5] referring to its peduncle- the stalk beneath the inflorescence, which is much longer than in other species of Hakea.[1]

Hakea pedunculata grows north of Cooktown on Cape York Peninsula a large peninsula in far North Queensland and adjacent islands. Often found in landward edges of mangroves or semi-swamp areas in low shrubland where Melaleuca is dominant.[1]

Hakea pedunculata is considered "least concern" by the Department of Environment and Science, Queensland.[6]