Hakea dohertyi

Kowmung hakea
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Hakea
Species: H. dohertyi
Binomial name
Hakea dohertyi
Haegi

Hakea dohertyi, commonly known as the Kowmung hakea, is a shrub which is endemic to a restricted locale in the Great Dividing Range in central New South Wales in Australia.[2] First collected by one M. Doherty on 17 November 1984, it was described in 1999.[3]

Growing to 3 metres (9.8 ft) high, it has long linear leaves which are 20 to 40 cm (7.9 to 15.7 in) long and only around 2 mm (0.079 in) wide. They are triangular in cross-section. The white flowers appear in spring. The flowers are followed by an oval woody follicle which is 2.3 to 2.8 cm (0.91 to 1.10 in) long and 1.2 to 2 cm (0.47 to 0.79 in) wide.[2]

Hakea dohertyi is found in a highly restricted area within Kanangra-Boyd National Park;[2] most plants grow near the Kowmung River.[1] The total area of its range is 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi).[4] It grows on sandy or rocky soils over shale or quartzite, and is found on ridges in open sclerophyll forest with such trees as grey gum (Eucalyptus punctata, silvertop ash (E. sieberi), Blaxland's stringybark (E. blaxlandii), forest she-oak (Allocasuarina torulosa), and shrubs such as crinkle bush (Lomatia silaifolia), (Stypandra glauca), and narrow-leaved geebung (Persoonia linearis).[4]

Hakea dohertyi is killed by bushfire and regenerates from seed stored in a seed bank in its canopy. Most seed is released from the woody follicles after bushfires, but some follicles open and release seed at other times.[4] As the plant requires five years to mature and set seed, bushfires occurring more frequently than this could wipe out the species entirely.[3]

The species is currently classified as endangered. It is grazed upon and threatened by wild goats. The rising of the water level of Lake Burragorang could also threaten populations.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) (2008). "Approved Conservation Advice for Hakea dohertyi". Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 New South Wales Flora Online: Hakea dohertyi by R.M. Barker, G.J. Harden, L O. Haegi, Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Department of Environment and Natural Resources (2010). "Hakea dohertyi Factsheet". Electronic Flora of South Australia. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (2000). "Ecology of Sydney Plant Species Part 7b: Dicotyledon families Proteaceae to Rubiaceae". Cunninghamia 6 (4): 1017–1202.