Summary of the final report on the Australian Flora Foundation funded project:

Investigating sterility in the clonal shrub Hakea pulvinifera: comparative studies of reproductive biology, floral development and genetic variation
Jennifer Smith and Acram Taji
School of Rural Science and Agriculture
University of New England  April 2004  Grant details  Send final report (435 KB PDF)

Summary
This study confirmed sterility and identified the causal factors associated with sterility
in H. pulvinifera. Early tapetal degeneration resulting in incomplete pollen formation and
very low anther dehiscence prevents fertilisation of viable ovules. In addition, extremely
low pollinator visitation resulting from poor floral resources limits the potential for
pollen transfer, despite low pollen viability. The confirmation that the only known
population of H. pulvinifera is composed a single plant has implications for its
endangered status and management; H. pulvinifera may be one of the rarest species in
the world. It is likely that the species is a sterile hybrid, whose progenitors are either
extinct or now geographically distant due to extensive destruction of the intervening
habitat between H. pulvinifera and other 'corkwood' species. Information compiled on
comparison species, H. ednieana, provides knowledge of the previously little studied
Lorea group of Hakeas.

This report has condensed the outcomes of a PhD thesis funded by an Australian
Postgraduate Award. Operating funds were contributed by the Australian Flora
Foundation and the industry partner, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Further
information will be available in the completed PhD thesis, due for submission in July
2004 (Smith, in preparation).