LEAF - The juvenile leaf is blade shaped and a “Granny Smith Apple” colour. The more mature leaf is needle shaped in the same colour. (see image) BARK - The bark is a dark brown/grey, with a distinctive patterning in the surface cracking(see image). The surface cracking was present on growth to “wooden spoon handle” size (bit thicker than a pencil). There were some lichens growing on the bark. HABIT- The plant was upright in growth pattern and was growing as a multi stemmed clump. Approximately 8-9 stems in the clump; the stems branched at various heights; the overall height of the plant was about 6-7 foot. Some of the individual stems/trunks had shot roots in the silt/sand layer that had built up on the plant/rocks (could have been on all; I only uncovered these three). SOIL – This plant was growing in sand and silt on the banks of a watercourse. Its major roots were anchored amongst rock.
SEED – The plant has a seed pod about the size of a baked bean that is pointy at one end. It opens to release a single seed and the pod persists on the plant for several seasons. Old seed pods were evident on the plant. (image yet to be posted)
NEIGHBOURS – This plant was growing in amongst Leptospermum obovatum and Callistemon sieberi (subsp. polystachyum?). This plant/clump was the only one growing in this location; I saw another about 100 yards downstream but am told that it is more common further downstream.
When the trunk was cut below the ring of roots that had grown into the soil build up that had covered it, the wood was the red colour of Callistemon sieberi heartwood (like a rich rosewood).
As it had struck this ring of secondary roots I am hoping that it will strike roots well and survive the collecting process.
I will post images of the seed shortly.
Thanks for your help,
Jan
SOLVED by MattA
Hakea microcarpa