Grevillea wittweri

Summary

Grevillea wittweri is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a shrub with pinnatipartite leaves, and clusters of greenish to fawn flowers with a crimson style.

Grevillea wittweri
Near Lake King
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Grevillea
Species:
G. wittweri
Binomial name
Grevillea wittweri

Description edit

Grevillea wittweri is a moderately dense, spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 1.0–2.2 m (3 ft 3 in – 7 ft 3 in). Its leaves are 40–80 mm (1.6–3.1 in) long and pinnatipartite with 3 to 8 lobes that are usually divided again, the end-lobes linear, 5–35 mm (0.20–1.38 in) long, 0.8–1.2 mm (0.031–0.047 in) wide and sharply pointed. The edges of the leaves are rolled under, concealing the lower surface, apart from the mid-vein. The flowers are arranged in erect clusters on one side of a rachis 50–75 mm (2.0–3.0 in) long, the flowers greenish to fawn-pink with a crimson to light burgundy style, the pistil 18–21 mm (0.71–0.83 in) long. Flowering occurs from September to April and the fruit is an oblong or ovoid follicle 12–14 mm (0.47–0.55 in) long and covered with woolly, glandular hairs.[3][4][5]

Taxonomy edit

Grevillea wittweri was first formally described by the botanist Donald McGillivray in 1986 his book, New Names in Grevillea (Proteaceae) from specimens collected near Lake Cairlocup by Kenneth Newbey in 1975.[6] The specific epithet (wittweri) honours Ernst Wittwer, the superintendent of Kings Park, Perth from 1974 to 1980.[7]

Distribution edit

This grevillea has a scattered distribution in the area between Gnowangerup, Newdegate, Lake Johnston and Ravensthorpe in the Coolgardie, Esperance Plains and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia. It grows in shrubland on sandplains, often around salt lakes.[3][4]

Conservation status edit

Grevillea wittweri is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions but as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.[1][3]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Grevillea wittweri". IUCN Red List. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Grevillea wittweri". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Grevillea wittweri". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. ^ a b "Grevillea wittweri". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  5. ^ Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray A. (1991). Banksias, waratahs & grevilleas : and all other plants in the Australian Proteaceae family. North Ryde, NSW, Australia: Angus & Robertson. p. 351. ISBN 0207172773.
  6. ^ "Grevillea wittweri". APNI. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  7. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 340. ISBN 9780958034180.