Hakea amplexicaulis

Hakea amplexicaulis, commonly known as prickly hakea, is a shrub native to south west Western Australia. An attractive small shrub with unusual stem clasping, sharply serrated foliage and a profusion of sweetly scented variable coloured flowers from late winter to spring. Hakea amplexicaulis is a lignotuberous upright straggly shrub growing to 1 to 3 metres (3 to 10 ft) high. The smaller branches are smooth. Leaves are narrowly egg-shaped or totally egg-shaped, 3–18 cm (30–200 mm) long and 20–65 mm (0.8–3 in) wide. Stem clasping leaves are sharply toothed with 12–30 2–6 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long teeth on each side, smooth, bluish-green with a powdery film. The inflorescence has 36-42 large, rounded and strongly scented flowers on a short stem. Clusters of white, cream, pink or red flowers appear in leaf axils; they may become pink or a reddish hue as they age. The pedicel is 6–14 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long. The perianth is smooth 4–6 mm (0.2–0.2 in) long, white occasionally with a pink tinge. The style is smooth. Fruit are egg-shaped 3–3.5 cm (1–1 in) long and 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide, smooth with a few sharp spines, and taper to a blunt beak. Fruit are egg-shaped 3–3.5 cm (1–1 in) long and 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide, smooth with a few sharp spines and taper to a blunt beak. The plant flowers from August to November. The species was first formally described by Robert Brown in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London in 1810. The specific epithet (amplexicaulis) is derived from the Latin words amplexus meaning 'encircle' or 'embrace':142 and caulis meaning 'stem',:142 referring to the stem-clasping habit at the base of the leaf. Hakea amplexicaulis is found in jarrah forests from Perth to Albany. This species grows in clay, loam and gravelly acidic soils in a well-drained site in sun or partial shade. A showy shrub, good for wildlife habitat and is moderately frost hardy. Hakea amplexicaulis is classified as 'not threatened' by Western Australian government Department of Parks and Wildlife.