Grevillea eremophila

Summary

Grevillea eremophila is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with leathery, linear to narrowly egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and creamy-white flowers.

Grevillea eremophila
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Grevillea
Species:
G. eremophila
Binomial name
Grevillea eremophila
(Diels) Olde & Marriott[2]
Synonyms[2]
  • Grevillea integrifolia subsp. ceratocarpa 'subsericeous form'
  • Grevillea integrifolia var. eremophila Diels
  • Grevillea integrifolia var. grandiflora S.Moore

Description edit

Grevillea eremophila is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 1.5–3 m (4 ft 11 in – 9 ft 10 in), its branchlets covered with silky hairs. Its leaves are leathery, linear to narrowly egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 60–160 mm (2.4–6.3 in) long, 1–5 mm (0.039–0.197 in) wide and sessile with three to nine longitudinal ridges. The flowers are arranged in erect, cylindrical groups 70–150 mm (2.8–5.9 in) long on, or near the ends of branches. The flowers are creamy-white and glabrous, the pistil 7.5–10 mm (0.30–0.39 in) long. Flowering occurs from late September to November and the fruit is a smooth, oval or cylindrical follicle 12–18 mm (0.47–0.71 in) long.[3][4]

Taxonomy edit

Grevillea eremophila was first formally described in 1904 by Ludwig Diels, who gave it the name Grevillea integrifolia var. eremophila in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie.[5][6] In 1994, Peter M. Olde and Neil R. Marriott raised the variety to species status as Grevillea eremophila in The Grevillea Book.[7] The specific epithet (eremophila) means "solitary-loving".[8]

Distribution and habitat edit

This grevillea grows on sandplains and heathlands, mainly between Comet Vale, Beacon and Narembeen in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Mallee, Murchison and Yalgoo biogeographic regions of south-western Western Australia.[3][4]

Conservation status edit

Grevillea eremophila is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and as "not threatened" under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 of Western Australia.[4] It has a wide distribution, a stable population and its threats are currently not severe enough to warrant a threatened or near-threatened category. There was significant habitat clearing within the species' distribution in the past for agriculture which caused rapid declines, though this no longer occurs. Competition with invasive weeds is considered to be a threat at present. Reduced fire frequency may also pose a threat to this species, though additional information is required to confirm this. The species is distributed within some protected areas and no additional conservation measures are required at present.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Olde, P.; Keighery, G. (2020). "Grevillea eremophila". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T113016705A113307946. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T113016705A113307946.en. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Grevillea eremophila". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Grevillea eremophila". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Grevillea eremophila". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. ^ "Grevillea integrifolia var. eremophila". APNI. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  6. ^ Diels, Friedrich L.E.; Pritzel, Ernst G. (1904). "Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae occidentalis. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Pflanzen Westaustraliens, ihrer Verbreitung und ihrer Lebensverhaltnisse". Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. 35 (1): 156. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Grevillea eremophila". APNI. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  8. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 192. ISBN 9780958034180.