Hakea rigida

Hakea rigida is a dense erect to spreading shrub 0.6–2.7 m (2–9 ft) high and wide. Small branches are densely matted with silky hairs at flowering. The dark green leaves are variable they may be needle-like 3.5–14 cm (1–6 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) in diameter. Leaves often twisted where they join the branch and are sparsely covered in silky hairs with 5-9 longitudinal veins. Flat leaves are thick and concave with 5 prominent longitudinal veins. The inflorescence appear in leaf axils in a profusion of deep or pale pink in racemes of 18-20 sweetly scented flowers on smooth short pink stalks. The perianth is bright pink and the pistil 6.5–8 mm (0.3–0.3 in) long. Fruit are either oblong or egg-shaped about 2 cm (0.8 in) long and 1.5 cm (0.6 in) wide and form in small clusters. The surface is mostly smooth with occasional small blister-like protuberances, ending with a small thin beak. Flowers from September to October.[2] [3][4][5]

Hakea rigida was first formally described by Laurence Haegi in 1999 in Flora of Australia. Haegi kept the name that Charles Austin Gardner had used to label specimens stored in the Western Australian Herbarium. The specific epithet (rigidus) is believed to be from the Latin rigidus meaning "rigid" referring to the leaves.[6][7][8]

Hakea rigida is an uncommon species growing from Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Westonia the Yilgarn north of Southern Cross. Recorded only from a few specimens, occurring in mallee-shrubland, open sand plains to gravelly soils.[3][4]

Hakea rigida is classified as "Priority Two" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife, meaning that it is rare or threatened due to it being known from one to five populations.[2][3][9]