Hakea repullulans H.M.Lee

Taxonomy and common name

Hakea repullulans, commonly known as furze hakea, is an erect shrub that reaches 1.2 to 4 meters (4 to 10 feet) in height.

Regeneration traits

It resprouts from a lignotuber, and often produces suckers from its horizontal roots.

Branchlet characteristics

Its branchlets are densely covered with short, soft, matted hairs, and become hairless and smooth by the time flowering occurs.

Leaf morphology

Leaves range from narrowly egg-shaped to long and narrow, twisted at the base, measuring 4 to 14 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) long and 3 to 12 millimeters (0.1 to 0.5 inches) wide. The leaves typically have 3 to 5 prominent longitudinal veins on both their upper and lower surfaces.

Inflorescence and flowers

Each inflorescence holds 10 to 36 cream-white flowers that grow in the leaf axils.

Flowering period

Flowering occurs mostly in spring.

Fruit characteristics

The fruit of this species is obliquely egg-shaped, slightly curved toward its apex, measuring 1.5 to 2.6 centimeters (0.6 to 1 inch) long and 0.8 to 1.3 centimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) wide, tapering to a small beak.

Distribution range

This species is distributed from southeastern South Australia to Grampians National Park and western regions of Victoria, eastward to the Otway Ranges, and also occurs near Sale in South Gippsland.

Habitat and substrate

It grows in acidic sandy soil within sclerophyll forests, and forms scattered populations in mallee-heath habitats.