Hakea lissosperma

Fruit of Hakea lissosperma

Flower of Hakea lissosperma

The mountain needlewood is a spreading shrub or small tree commonly with spiny leaves and dense clusters of white flowers, growing approximately from 2 to 6 metres (7 to 20 ft) in height.[3] It is a low woody plant with several main stout branches.[2] The flat evergreen leaves are terete, usually 6 to 10 centimetres (2.4 to 3.9 in) in length and 1.5 to 2 millimetres (0.059 to 0.079 in) wide. The leaf follicles are usually 20 to 30 mm (0.79 to 1.18 in) long and 15 to 20 mm (0.59 to 0.79 in) wide while the mature ones are about 2.3 to 2.7 cm (0.91 to 1.06 in) and 1.7 to 2 cm (0.67 to 0.79 in) wide and coarsely wrinkled or blistered.[4]

Hakea lissosperma was first formally described by Robert Brown in 1810 as part of the work On the natural order of plants called Proteaceae published in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London.[7][8] The type specimen was collected in Tasmania on mountains between the Derwent and "Heron" rivers.[8] The specific epithet (lissosperma) is derived from the Ancient Greek words lissos meaning "smooth" or "polished"[9]^:722 and sperma meaning "seed".[9]^:736

Distribution of Hakea lissosperma[7]

H. lissosperma is found in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.[6] In Tasmania the species is commonly found in the following areas: Break O'Day, Central Highlands, Circular Head, Derwent Valley, Dorset, Flinders Island, Glamorgan-Spring Bay, Hobart, Huon Valley, Kentish, Kingborough, Launceston, Meander Valley, Northern Midlands, Southern Midlands, Tasman, Waratah-Wynyard, West Coast.[2] In Victoria it is found in the east parts including; East Gippsland, Fall Highlands, Victorian Alps and Snowy Mountains.[6] In New South Wales it is found only in alpine areas in the south east surrounding the Australian Capital Territory.

The species is commonly found in wet Eucalypt forest and it is widespread especially on mountains to 1,200 metres (3,937 ft) and to sea level in areas of high rainfall.[3] The tree is frost hardy and drought tolerant to cope with its habitat.[10] It is also found in dry forest habitat at altitudes of 700 m (2,297 ft) in parts of Victoria[6] It prefers a moist and shady site and grows well in fertile, loam soils but is phosphorus intolerant.[3]

This tree should only be planted in a sheltered location. Seeds can be collected any time of year but only from older fruit which is usually grey-brown in colour. The seeds must then be leached and the dry fruit will usually open in 2–3 weeks or place in an oven 80 to 100 °C (176 to 212 °F) for 30 minutes with the door partially open. Besides leaching stratification can also be used.[3] Once planted the germination time is approximately 6 months. The species is a favourite of birds due to the dense clusters of flowers and pungent rigid needle-shaped leaves which can be a shelter against predators. It is also resistant to wildlife browsing due to its unpalatability.[3]