Hakea mitchellii, commonly known as desert hakea,[2] is a shrub species in the family Proteaceae.

Desert hakea
Hakea mitchellii in the ANBG
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Hakea
Species:
H. mitchellii
Binomial name
Hakea mitchellii
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms

Hakea muelleriana J.M.Black

Description

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Hakea mitchellii is a dense rounded medium to large shrub between 1–4 m (3–10 ft) high and wide and does not form a lignotuber. Leaves vary from terete, linear to ovate are 3.5–10 cm (1–4 in) long and 1–10 cm (0.4–4 in) wide. Profuse showy white or cream flowers appear in racemes in the leaf axils between October and January in the species' native range. Ellipsoidal to ovoid shaped fruit 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) long by 0.5–1.5 cm (0.2–0.6 in) wide tapering to a small beak.[3][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

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The species was first formally described in 1856 by Swiss botanist Carl Meissner and the description was published in Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis.[6][7] The type specimen was collected near Pyramid Hill during Thomas Livingston Mitchell's 1836 expedition.[5][8] Hakea mitchellii was named after Mitchell to honour the collector of the species.[4]

Distribution and habitat

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Desert hakea grows in mallee-heath vegetation on calcareous sandy soil. Mainly a South Australian species occurring on Eyre, Yorke and Fleurieu Peninsulas, Kangaroo Island and south of the Murray River to Naracoorte, extending into western Victoria.[5][4]

References

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  1. ^ "Hakea mitchellii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  2. ^ VicFlora Flora of Victoria: Hakea mitchellii Miesn. Desert Hakea. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  3. ^ Holliday, Ivan (2005). Hakeas:A Field and Garden Guide. Reed New Holland. ISBN 1-877069-14-0.
  4. ^ a b c "Hakea mitchellii". Flora of South Australia. Retrieved 19 November 2018.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b c Wilson, Annette; Barker, Robyn M.; Haegi, Laurence A.; Barker, William R., eds. (1999). "Flora of Australia". ABRS-Department of Environment and Heritage. ISBN 0-643-06454-0.
  6. ^ "Hakea mitchellii". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Proteaceae Hakea mitchellii Meisn. (possible holotype)". C. V. Starr Virtual Herbarium. New York Botanical Garden. Retrieved 30 April 2012.