Hakea acuminata
Hakea acuminata is a shrub of the family Proteaceae native to Western Australia. A restricted species bearing clusters of white flowers with a green or pinkish tinge in late autumn to winter.
Description
Hakea acuminata is a multi-branched shrub growing to high, with smooth grey bark. Its leaves are shiny, rich green with a yellow tinge at the base, almost flat and partially whorled in the higher flowering branches. The leaves are concave, narrowly oval to egg-shaped long and wide. There are up to three prominent longitudinal veins on both sides of the leaves. The inflorescence has 16 to 24 flowers appearing in racemes in leaf axils. The perianth is a cream-yellow and the style is long and prominent. The pistil is long. Egg-shaped woody fruit grow singly or in pairs long and wide. The fruit become corky as they age and have little or no beak. The seeds are blackish-brown, obliquely egg-shaped long and wide with a wing extending down both sides of body. From May to October clusters of cream to pale yellow, ageing to pale pink blooms appear.
Taxonomy and naming
Hakea acuminata was first formally described in 1999 by Laurence Haegi in the Flora of Australia from specimens collected on the north slope of One Tree Hill, south of Ravensthorpe in 1979. The specific epithet means 'pointed', referring to the leaves.
Distribution and habitat
This species is endemic to the area between Ravensthorpe and Jerramungup in the Esperance Plains bioregion, where it grows on undulating plains of shrub-mallee or heath in deep white sand or loamy soils over granite in the. The species has been only been discovered in recent years, and is only known from five localities.
Conservation status
Hakea acuminata is classified as "Priority Two" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, meaning that it is poorly known and from one or a few locations.