Long before the arrival of humans – who have been part of “the local equation” for many thousands of years – fire was already a key element in Waychinicup’s ecology.
This post’s featured individual belongs to one of the serotinous plant species; their seeds are stored in hard capsules, which open after a fire.
A fire may well kill the individual, but the species is highly “fire tolerant”.
Probably, all or most of the Hakea species in Waychinicup are in fact fire-dependent.
Hakea is a genus of circa 150 species, members of the Protea family.
Endemic to Australia, Hakeas grow in every State and Territory.
The majority of Hakea species, however, are endemic to southwest Western Australia.
(Photo is copyright Doug Spencer, taken at 5.12 pm on 22 September, 2020)
The Waychinicup series’ next few posts will offer closer views of burnt Hakeas (also taken on 22.09.2020) and an unscorched individual, flowering in February this year.