Hakea

taxobox
name = "Hakea"

---

image_caption = "Hakea laurina" (Pincushion Hakea)
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
ordo = Proteales
familia = Proteaceae
subfamilia = Grevilleoideae
genus = "Hakea"
genus_authority = Schrad. & J.C.Wendl.
type_species = "Hakea teretifolia"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.|

Hakea ("Hakea") is a genus of 149 species of shrubs and small trees in the Proteaceae, native to Australia. They are found throughout the country, with the highest species diversity being found in the south west of Western Australia.

They can reach 1-6 m in height, and have spirally arranged leaves 2-20 cm long, simple or compound, sometimes (e.g. "H. suaveolens") with the leaflets thin cylindrical and rush-like. The flowers are produced in dense flowerheads of variable shape, globose to cylindrical, 3-10 cm long, with numerous small red, yellow, pink, purple, pale blue or white flowers.

Hakeas are named after Baron Christian Ludwig von Hake, the 18th century German patron of botany, following Heinrich Schrader's description of "Hakea teretifolia" in 1797.

It is now widely accepted that "Grevillea" is paraphyletic with respect to "Hakea". It is likely, therefore, that "Hakea" will soon be transferred into "Grevillea".

Classification

Hakeas are closely related to the genus "Grevillea" and "Finschia", both members of the subfamily Grevilleoideae within the family Proteaceae. Many species have similar inflorescences, but hakeas can be distinguished by their woody seed pods.

Horticulture

Hakeas are popular ornamental plants in gardens in Australia, though not nearly as commonly seen as grevilleas and banksias. Several hybrids and cultivars have been developed. They are best grown in beds of light soil which is watered but still well drained.

Some showy western species, such as "Hakea multilineata", "H. francisiana" and "H. bucculenta", require grafting onto hardy stock such as "Hakea salicifolia" for growing in more humid climates, as they are sensitive to dieback.

Many species, particularly (but not always) Eastern Australian species, are notable for their hardiness, to the point they have become weedy. "Hakea gibbosa", "H. sericea" and "H. drupacea" (previously "H. suaveolens") have been weeds in South Africa, "Hakea laurina" has become naturalized around Adelaide.

pecies

References

*
*
*

External links

*Flora of Australia Online|name="Hakea"|id=3144
*FloraBase|name="Hakea"|id=21320
* [http://asgap.org.au/hakea.html The "Hakea" Page: index] Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants