Synonymy
Hakea pendens R.M.Barker, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 13: 100 (1990)
T: near Marvel Loch, W.A., 1 Sept. 1978, P.Luscombe s.n.; holo: PERTH.
Hakea sp. 5 (Parker Range), J.D.Briggs & J.H.Leigh, Rare or Threatened Austral. Pl. 123 (1988).
Description
Shrub, 1.9–2.7 m tall, 2.5–3.1 m wide. Branchlets and young leaves appressed-sericeous, ferruginous, quickly glabrescent. Leaves simple, 2–4 cm long, 1.9–2 mm wide; mucro 1–2.5 mm long.
Inflorescence pendent from apex of old branched rachises, with 6 or 8 flowers; rachis hirsute; pedicels 6.5–7.5 mm long, cream-white, pink distally. Perianth c. 7–8 mm long, light pink at base, darker above; limb white inside and out. Pistil 14–15.5 mm long; pollen presenter conical.
Fruit obliquely obovate, 2.8–3.1 cm long, 1.4–1.8 cm wide, black-pusticulate; apiculum c. 2 mm long; horns obscure. Seed 17 mm long; wing broadly down one side of seed body, narrowly down other.
Distribution and ecology
Only known from the Parker Ra. in W.A. where it occurs on ironstone or stony ridges in stony loam of mixed scrub.
To plot an up to date distribution map based on herbarium collections for this species see Australia's Virtual Herbarium. Localities outside the native range may represent cultivated or naturalised records.
Flowering time
Flowers only recorded in Sept., but probably also flowering in August and October.
Derivation of name
The epithet pendens, Latin for pendulous, is a reference to the hanging flowers.
Relationships
Part of Section Hakea of Bentham (as Euhakea) and characterised by a non-conical pollen presenter, leaves without obvious venation, perianths with or without hairs and fruits with or without horns. Barker et al. (1999) recognised a number of informal morphological groups within the section.
Notes
This species, distinguishable by its large glabrous pink flowers in pendent inflorescences, had been known for some time in cultivation before its formal recognition as a species.
Probably closest to H. verrucosa from which it varies in its unbranched rachis, longer pedicels, shorter pistil length, conical pollen presenter and broader leaves. Similar in fruit to H. newbeyana , from which it varies in flower colour and size and leaf width and orientation, and also to H. purpurea from Qld. Occasional compound leaves (usually tripartite) occur on a plant in cultivation in Wittunga Botanic Gardens, S.A., but it is not known whether they occur in natural populations.
Conservation status
In Western Australia denoted as Priority Two - Poorly Known: taxa which are known from one or a few (generally <5) populations, at least some of which are not believed to be under immediate threat (i.e. not currently endangered). Such taxa are under consideration for declaration as ‘rare flora’, but are in urgent need of further survey.
Atkins, K.J. (2008). Declared Rare and Priority Flora List for
Representative specimens
W.A.: Parker Ra., on summit ridge, J.S.Beard 5934 (KPBG); Mt Caudan, Parker Ra., c. 48 km SE of Southern Cross, K.Newbey 9218 (PERTH); Reserve SW of Southern Cross, 19 May 1969, Kennecott Explorations s.n. (PERTH).
Weblinks
Link to FloraBase treatment of this species for WA.
Further illustrations
W.R.Elliot & D.L.Jones, Encycl. Austral. Pl. 5: 238 (1990)
I. Holliday, Hakeas. A Field and Garden Guide 158-9 (2005)
J.A..Young, Hakeas of Western Australia. A Field and Identification Guide 87(2006)