Hakea recurva subsp. arida

Hakea recurva subsp. arida is a plant in the family Proteaceae endemic to the south-west of Western Australia.

Description

An erect dense shrub high with smooth to rough grey bark.
Terete dark green leaves are thick and rigid long and wide ending with a very sharp point long. They may be straight or have an upward curve. Profuse white-cream fragrant flowers appear in dense clusters in the leaf axils. The fruit are wide, egg-shaped with a smooth to slightly rough surface ending with a small pointed beak.

Taxonomy and naming

This hakea was first formally described in 1904 by Ludwig Diels who gave it the name Hakea arida and published the description in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. In 1999, William Barker and Robyn Barker changed the name to Hakea recurva subsp. arida. Named from the Latin aridus 'dry', referring to the semi-arid area where it grows.

Distribution and habitat

Grows inland from Mount Augustus south to Wubin on sandstone slopes, river banks, flats in sand, loam and stony soils with quartzite and laterite. An ornamental frost tolerant species requiring full sun and good drainage. A good habitat plant for wildlife due to its dense prickly growth habit.

Conservation status

Hakea recurva subsp. arida is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.