Pincushion Hakea

Hakea laurina

''Hakea laurina'' is a plant of Southwest Australia that is widely cultivated and admired. The species is often referred to as Kodjet, Pincushion Hakea, and Emu Bush. The specific epithet, derived from the Latin ''laurus'', is given for the resemblance to the leaves of laurel. The Noongar name for the plant is Kodjet or Kojet.
Pincushion Hakea - 'Hakea laurina Native to Western Australia but naturalised in South Australia. Australia,Eamw flora,Fall,Geotagged,Hakea laurina,Pincushion Hakea

Appearance

The habit of this plant is an upright shrub or tree, reaching a height between 2.5 and 6 metres and width of between 3 and 5m. It does not possess a lignotuber. The habitat is often sandplains, sometimes occurring on sandy-clay, most recorded specimens are in the southern districts of its botanical province.

Flowers are initially pale or cream, perhaps hidden by the leaves in the early stages, and are contained by scale-like bracts before opening. These are deep pink to red on the globular centre, a clustered flowerhead at the leaf axils, pale styles emerge from these. This resembles a pin cushion. Nectar and a slight fragrance is produced from the flowerheads.

The flowering period occurs between April and August.

Leaves are simple and slightly blue green, they are flat, glabrous, have entire margins, and are obovate or lanceolate in outline, coming to a sharp point at the tip. The leaves vary in size on the plant, they may be 6–29 mm wide and reach 180 mm in length. Foliage is dense and in alternate arrangement on the upright branchlets; in some forms this may be pendulous and reach the ground. Bark is grey and smooth. Fruit is retained on the plant, is ovoid, slightly beaked at the end, and a smooth surface on the valve.
Close up of Pincushion Hakea (Hakea laurina )  Hakea laurina,Pincushion Hakea

Naming

In the language of flowers, ''Hakea laurina'' symbolises nobility and longevity.
Pincushion Hakea - Hakea laurina Young flower head. Australia,Eamw flora,Fall,Geotagged,Hakea laurina,Pincushion Hakea

Habitat

The species occurs in the sandplains of the coastal Southwest of Australia, the northernmost range being Narrogin and extending east to Esperance.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionAngiosperms
ClassEudicots
OrderProteales
FamilyProteaceae
GenusHakea
SpeciesH. laurina
Photographed in
Australia