''Hakea brownii'' commonly known fan-leaf hakea
is a shrub in the family
Proteaceae
The Proteaceae form a family of flowering plants predominantly distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises 83 genera with about 1,660 known species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae, they make up the order Pro ...
native to an area in the
Wheatbelt region of
Western Australia. This species shares a common name with ''
Hakea baxteri
''Hakea baxteri'', commonly known as fan-leaf hakea
, is a shrub in the family Proteaceae native to an area in the Great Southern and Wheatbelt regions of Western Australia. A species noted for its foliage due to its fan-shaped leaves.
Descri ...
'' due to its distinctive leaves.
Description
''Hakea brownii'' is a
lignotuberous
A lignotuber is a woody swelling of the root crown possessed by some plants as a protection against destruction of the plant stem, such as by fire. Other woody plants may develop basal burls as a similar survival strategy, often as a response t ...
shrub growing to high. Smaller branches and new leaves are densely covered in matted rusty coloured silky hairs, becoming smooth by flowering. The leaves are ornamental, fan shaped, stiff, thickly textured and prickly toothed at the apex. They have straight sides tapering to the base, long and wide. The
inflorescence consists of 6-10 small sweetly scented cream-brown flowers on an obscure stem. The
pedicels are long thickly covered in matted silky rusty coloured hairs extending onto the lower part of the flower. The
perianth is long and the
style long. Flowers appear in clusters in the leaf axils or on old wood from August to November. The large rounded egg-shaped fruit are long and wide. The fruit surface is wrinkled and may have a network of veins tapering to a short beak.
Taxonomy and naming
''Hakea brownii'' was first described by Carl Meisner in 1845 and was published in '' Plantae Preissianae''.
Distribution and habitat
''Hakea brownii'' is widespread from the coastal plains of the Murchison River through the central wheatbelt to Cape Riche. Grows on sandy loam, deep sand or sand over laterite
Laterite is both a soil and a rock type rich in iron and aluminium and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are of rusty-red coloration, because of high iron oxide content. They develop by ...
in heath or shrubland. Requires a well-drained site with a sunny aspect. A frost-tolerant species, having uses in floral art and wildlife habitat.
Conservation status
''Hakea brownii'' is currently classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government.[
]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q18080154
brownii
Eudicots of Western Australia
Plants described in 1845
Taxa named by Carl Meissner