Grevillea aspleniifolia, also known as fern leaf grevillea,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to eastern New South Wales. It is a spreading shrub with linear to narrowly egg-shaped leaves and purplish flowers.
| Grevillea aspleniifolia | |
|---|---|
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| In the Australian National Botanic Gardens | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Grevillea |
| Species: | G. aspleniifolia
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| Binomial name | |
| Grevillea aspleniifolia | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Description
editGrevillea aspleniifolia is a spreading shrub that typically grows to 1–5 m (3 ft 3 in – 16 ft 5 in) high and up to 5 m (16 ft) wide. The leaves are linear to narrowly egg-shaped, 150–250 mm (5.9–9.8 in) long and 3–15 mm (0.12–0.59 in) wide with irregular serrations and a woolly-hairy lower surface, the edges turned down or rolled under. The flowers are arranged in toothbrush-like racemes along a rachis usually 30–50 mm (1.2–2.0 in) long, and are purplish with grey or white hairs. The pistil is mostly 15–25 mm (0.59–0.98 in) long and the style has a green tip. Flowering mainly occurs from July to November and the fruits is a hairy follicle 11–12 mm (0.43–0.47 in) long.[4][5][6][7][8]
Similar species
editG. aspleniifolia closely resembles its relative, G. longifolia but differs in that its branchlets are rounded and covered in short, grey wooly hairs, whereas the branchlets of G. longifolia are ruddy brown and covered in brownish, appressed hairs. G. aspleniifolia is also distinguishable from G. longifolia by its leaves, the former having greyish, wooly hairs on the underside of leaves that may be entire or irregularly toothed, the latter having greyish to brownish appressed hairs on the underside of the leaves. Both species may have entire leaves, though these are usually more numerous on G. aspleniifolia.[8][9]
Taxonomy
editGrevillea aspleniifolia was first formally described in 1809 by Joseph Knight in On the cultivation of the plants belonging to the natural order of Proteeae.[10][11] The specific epithet (aspleniifolia) means ''Asplenium-leaved".[6]
Distribution and habitat
editThis grevillea grows in woodland on sandstone or shale in the catchments of the Warragamba Dam and Woronora River, and near Bungonia Caves, in eastern New South Wales.[5][4]
Use in horticulture
editGrevillea aspleniifolia is reported to be a hardy, fast-growing plant that tolerates heavy soil as long as the soil is well-drained. A sunny position is preferred.[6]
Conservation status
editThis species is listed as "Near Threatened" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It has a restricted distribution and a naturally severely fragmented population, where it occurs in several small, isolated subpopulations. Threats to this species include damage and/or grazing by introduced deer and changed fire regimes.[1]
References
edit
- ^ a b Makinson, R. (2020). "Grevillea aspleniifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T112646396A113309195. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T112646396A113309195.en. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Grevillea aspleniifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ "Grevillea aspleniifolia". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ a b Makinson, Robert O. "Grevillea aspleniifolia". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ a b Makinson, Robert O. "Grevillea aspleniifolia". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Howes, Jeff (August 2021). Clarke, Dan (ed.). "Grevillea aspleniifolia". Australian Plants Society New South Wales. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ Wood, Betty. "Grevillea aspleniifolia". Lucid Keys. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ a b M. Blomberry, Alex; Maloney, Betty (1992). The Proteaceae of the Sydney Region. Kangaroo Press. p. 58. ISBN 0864174330.
- ^ Olde, Peter; Marriott, Neil (1995). The Grevillea Book. Vol. 2. Kangaroo Press. pp. 42–43. ISBN 0864173261.
- ^ "Grevillea aspleniifolia". APNI. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ Knight, Joseph (1809). On the cultivation of the plants belonging to the natural order of Proteeae. p. 120. Retrieved 6 December 2021.