Hakea amplexicaulis

Hakea amplexicaulis, commonly known as prickly hakea,^[2] is a shrub endemic to south west Western Australia. An attractive small shrub with unusual stem clasping, sharply serrated foliage and a profusion of sweetly scented variable coloured flowers from late winter to spring.

Prickly hakea
Hakea amplexicaulis near Mundaring Weir, Western Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Proteales
Family:	Proteaceae
Genus:	Hakea
Species:	H. amplexicaulis
Binomial name
Hakea amplexicaulis R.Br.[1]
Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium
Synonyms
Hakea amplexicaulis R.Br. var. amplexicaulis Hakea amplexicaulis var. latifolia Meisn. Hakea triformis Lindl. Hakea amplexicaulis var. angustifolia Meisn.

fruit

stem-clasping leaf base

Description

Hakea amplexicaulis is an upright, straggly shrub growing to 1 to 3 metres (3 to 10 ft) high with smooth smaller branches and forms a lignotuber. The leaves are narrowly egg-shaped or totally egg-shaped, 3–18 cm (30–200 mm) long and 20–65 mm (0.8–3 in) wide. The stem clasping leaves are sharply toothed with 12–30 2–6 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long teeth on each side, smooth, bluish-green with a powdery film. The inflorescence has 36-42 large, rounded and strongly scented flowers on a short stem. Clusters of white, cream, pink or red flowers appear in leaf axils; they may become pink or a reddish hue as they age. The pedicel is 6–14 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long. The perianth is smooth 4–6 mm (0.2–0.2 in) long, white occasionally with a pink tinge and the style is smooth. The fruit are egg-shaped 3–3.5 cm (1–1 in) long and 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide, smooth with a few sharp spines, and taper to a blunt beak. Flowering occurs from August to November.^[2][3][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London.^[1] The specific epithet (amplexicaulis) is derived from the Latin words amplexus meaning "encircled" or "embraced"^[6]: 142 and caulis meaning "stem",^[6]: 142 referring to the stem-clasping habit at the base of the leaf.^[4][7]

Distribution and habitat

Hakea amplexicaulis is found in jarrah forests from Perth to Albany. This species grows in clay, loam and gravelly acidic soils in a well-drained site in sun or partial shade. A showy shrub, good for wildlife habitat and is moderately frost hardy.^[3][4]

Conservation status

Hakea amplexicaulis is classified as "not threatened" by Western Australian government Department of Parks and Wildlife.^[2]

Gallery

• Flower detail
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