Grevillea obtecta, commonly known as Fryerstown grevillea, Elphinstone grevillea or Taradale grevillea,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to Victoria in Australia. It is a prostrate, clumping or straggling shrub with pinnatifid, pinnatipartite or toothed leaves, and toothbrush-like clusters of light green to yellowish and purplish to black flowers with a dull yellow to pink style.
| Fryerstown grevillea | |
|---|---|
| |
| In Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Grevillea |
| Species: | G. obtecta
|
| Binomial name | |
| Grevillea obtecta | |
Description
editGrevillea obtecta is a prostrate, clumping or straggling shrub that typically grows up to 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) high, 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) wide and has shaggy- to woolly-hairy branchlets. The leaves are usually egg-shaped to oblong in outline, 20–180 mm (0.79–7.09 in) long, 20–60 mm (0.79–2.36 in) wide and pinatifid or pinnatipartite with 2 to 21 lobes, or toothed, the end lobes or teeth triangular to narrowly egg-shaped and sometimes sharply-pointed, 5–30 mm (0.20–1.18 in) long and 2–15 mm (0.079–0.591 in) wide. The flowers are arranged in toothbrush-like clusters on a rachis 35–60 mm (1.4–2.4 in) long and are light green to yellowish on the outside and purplish to black inside with a dull yellow to pink style, the pistil 12–16 mm (0.47–0.63 in) long. Flowering occurs from August to November and the fruit is a silky-hairy follicle 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) long.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy
editGrevillea obtecta was first formally described in 1985 by Bill Molyneux in the journal Muelleria from specimens collected near Taradale in 1977.[5] The specific epithet (obtecta) means "covered over" or "protected", referring to the large bracts that cover and protect the immature flowers.[4][6]
Distribution and habitat
editFryerstown grevillea occurs in dry sclerophyll forest between Fryerstown and the north of Daylesford. It is found on the south faces of gravelly slopes.[2]
Conservation status
editThis species is listed as "endangered" under the Victorian Government Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and as "Rare in Victoria" on the Department of Sustainability and Environment's Advisory List of Rare Or Threatened Plants In Victoria.[3][7]
References
edit- ^ "Grevillea obtecta". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ a b c "Grevillea obtecta". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ a b Makinson, Robert O.; Stajsic, Val. "Grevillea obtecta". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ a b Molyneux, William M. (1985). "Grevillea obtecta (Proteaceae), a new species from central Victoria". Muelleria. 6 (1&2): 147–151. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Grevillea obtecta". APNI. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 263. ISBN 9780958034180.
- ^ "Advisory list of rare or threatened plants in Victoria - 2014" (PDF). Victorian Government Department of Environment and Primary Industries. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
