About Hakea leucoptera R.Br.
Hakea leucoptera R.Br. is a plant with a highly variable growth habit. It can grow as a small, openly branched tree reaching up to 5 m (20 ft), or as a small multi-stemmed shrub growing up to 3 m (10 ft). It typically grows in coarse-textured soils, and is associated with a wide variety of species in woodland communities. It is widespread across all Australian mainland states, growing in dense shrub thickets, as scattered individual trees, or as a large parent tree surrounded by its offspring. Its timber is reddish-brown and close-grained; it is soft when fresh but becomes hard and brittle when dry. Its silvery grey to grey-blue leaves are arranged alternately along the stems. The leaves are rigid and cylindrical, ranging in length from 8–35 mm (0.3–1 in), and are approximately 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide, ending in a sharp pointed tip. Young leaves are covered in fine hoary hair, but become smooth as they mature. Showy creamy white flowers grow on short, hairless stalks about 4 mm (0.2 in) long, arranged in axillary raceme clusters of 20 or more flowers. Hakea leucoptera flowers from late spring to summer. Its fruit is a woody follicle 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long, swollen at the base and tapering to a point. The fruit capsules split open longitudinally into two halves, revealing two seeds that each have an opaque wing on only one side. Woody seed pods can stay attached to the branches until after the following year’s flowering. Immature seeds will not ripen if removed from the plant, so it is best to collect older mature fruits. Fruit crop size varies from year to year. Once collected, fruits usually dry out and open within 1–2 weeks. The species is easily grown from fresh seed, which typically germinates in 3–6 weeks, and seed is suitable for direct seeding. Hakea leucoptera is found in every state of Australia except Tasmania, and is commonly recognized as a dry-country species native to arid and semi-arid regions. Shrubby forms of the plant are palatable to livestock, but only during periods of severe feed shortage. Smoking pipes have been manufactured from its roots, and in 1895 the Australian Needle-wood Pipe Company was formed in Sydney for this purpose. This plant was important to Indigenous Australian people and inland explorers, who obtained water from its roots. To extract water, the tree was burnt to drive water into the root system, after which the roots were dug up, their outer bark stripped, one end held over a slow fire and the other end positioned over a container to force water out of the root. This ability to store water also lets the plant regenerate quickly after fire. A sweet, nutritious drink can be made by dipping flower-laden branches into a cup of water, or by sucking nectar directly from the flowers. Hakea leucoptera flowers produce high-quality honey favoured by bees. Indigenous people of inland Australia used corkwoods from this species as medicine. Burnt bark was applied directly to burns and open sores, or mixed with animal fat to create a healing ointment. Indigenous people also used the plant's woody seed pods for decoration. The plant's timber polishes well, has a very showy grain, and has also been used to make small tannery articles.
