Hakea purpurea

Hakea purpurea is a shrub which is endemic to Queensland and New South Wales in Australia.

Hakea purpurea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Hakea
Species:
H. purpurea
Binomial name
Hakea purpurea
Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium

Description

Hakea purpurea is a dense, upright, slightly spreading shrub 0.3–3 m (1–10 ft) high and 1 m (3 ft) wide. The branchlets are either smooth or with flattened, silky hairs. The leaves are needle-shaped and divide toward the apex into 2-7 segments that are 1.6–9.5 cm (0.63–3.74 in) long and 0.8–1.5 mm (0.031–0.059 in) wide and end in a sharp point 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long. The leaves are thickly covered in short, matted, white or rusty coloured hairs quickly becoming smooth. Profuse reddish-purple flowers up to 3 cm (1 in) long appear in spring in thick clusters in the leaf axils, sometimes on old wood. These are followed by smoothish ovoid woody seed capsules that are approximately 1.5 cm (0.6 in) wide ending with an upturned beak.[2][3][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

Hakea purpurea was first formally described by William Jackson Hooker in 1848 and published the description in Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia.[6] Derived from the Latin purpureus meaning 'purple' or 'dull red with a tinge of blue' a reference to the colour of the flowers.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Hakea purpurea occurs in central Queensland and has an isolated occurrence in hills north of Yetman in New South Wales. Grows in open forest, woodland and heath, mostly in sandy soil.[2]

Cultivation

A very showy species good for garden cultivation. Tolerant of fairly heavy frosts and attractive to nectar eating birds.[2]

References
  1. "Hakea purpurea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  2. Holliday, Ivan. Hakeas:A Field and Garden Guide. Reed New Holland. ISBN 1-877069-14-0.
  3. Greig, Denise. Field Guide to Australian Wildflowers. New Holland. ISBN 1-86436-334-7.
  4. Wriggley, John; Fagg, Murray. Australian Native Plants:Propagation, Cultivation and Use in Landscaping. Reed New Holland. ISBN 1-876334-30-4.
  5. "Hakea purpurea". Government of South Australia. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  6. "Hakea purpurea". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
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