Grevillea linearifolia
Encyclopedia
Grevillea linearifolia is a shrub
endemic to New South Wales
, Australia
.
of many flowers.
's 1793 A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland
as Embothrium sericeum var. angustifolium. This was overlooked, however, by Cavanilles
, who in 1797 published the same species as Embothrium linearifolium. In 1917 Cavanilles' species was transferred into Grevillea as G. linearifolia by George Druce. Smith's prior publication would not be discovered until 2000.
Other synonyms include:
The taxonomic limits of G. linearifolia are difficult to establish. In addition to variations between populations, the species is said to form "an intergrading complex" with G. parviflora,, and may intergrade with G. patulifolia
and/or G. humilis subsp. humilis. It is also known to hybridise often with G. sericea
, and occasional hybrids with G. diffusa subsp. filipendula have also been reported.
. It occurs mainly from Gosford
and Putty, south to the Parramatta River
and Port Jackson
. There are also some disjunct populations that differ slightly from the Gosford form, but have been placed provisionally in this species. These occur near Lawson
in the lower Blue Mountains, just inland from Ulladulla
, and near Nowra
. The species has also been reported to occur in Victoria
, for example in the 4th edition of A Census of the Vascular Plants of Victoria, but according to the Australian Plant Census these collections actually belong to a range of other species, specifically: G. alpivaga
, G. neurophylla
, G. patulifolia
, G. gariwerdensis
and G. micrantha
.
It grows in moist but well-drained soils, mostly sandy soils over sandstone; its habitat is generally amongst shrub
by eucalypt woodland.
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
endemic to New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Description
It grows as an upright, open shrub from one to two or sometimes three metres high. It has angular, ridged branchlets and long, straight leaves from three to eleven centimetres long, and one to five millimetres wide. Flowers are white, sometimes with a faint pink tinge. As with other Grevillea species they occur in an inflorescenceInflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
of many flowers.
Taxonomy
The species was first formally described in James Edward SmithJames Edward Smith
Sir James Edward Smith was an English botanist and founder of the Linnean Society.Smith was born in Norwich in 1759, the son of a wealthy wool merchant. He displayed a precocious interest in the natural world...
's 1793 A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland
A specimen of the botany of New Holland
A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland, also known by its standard abbreviation Spec. Bot. New Holland, was the first published book on the flora of Australia. Written by James Edward Smith and illustrated by James Sowerby, it was published by Sowerby in four parts between 1793 and 1795...
as Embothrium sericeum var. angustifolium. This was overlooked, however, by Cavanilles
Antonio José Cavanilles
Antonio José Cavanilles was a leading Spanish taxonomic botanist of the 18th century. He named many plants, particularly from Oceania, his name is abbreviated as Cav...
, who in 1797 published the same species as Embothrium linearifolium. In 1917 Cavanilles' species was transferred into Grevillea as G. linearifolia by George Druce. Smith's prior publication would not be discovered until 2000.
Other synonyms include:
- Grevillea linearis R.Br.Robert Brown (botanist)Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
- Lysanthe linearifolia (Cav.Antonio José CavanillesAntonio José Cavanilles was a leading Spanish taxonomic botanist of the 18th century. He named many plants, particularly from Oceania, his name is abbreviated as Cav...
) Knight - Embothrium lineare AndrewsHenry Charles AndrewsHenry Charles Andrews , was an English botanist, botanical artist and engraver.He lived in Knightsbridge and was married to the daughter of John Kennedy of Hammersmith, a nurseryman who assisted Andrews in the descriptions of the plants he illustrated.He was an accomplished and unusual botanical...
The taxonomic limits of G. linearifolia are difficult to establish. In addition to variations between populations, the species is said to form "an intergrading complex" with G. parviflora,, and may intergrade with G. patulifolia
Grevillea patulifolia
Grevillea patulifolia, commonly known as Swamp Grevillea, is a shrub species in the family Proteaceae. It is native to the states of New South Wales and Victoria in Australia....
and/or G. humilis subsp. humilis. It is also known to hybridise often with G. sericea
Grevillea sericea
Grevillea sericea is a shrub endemic to New South Wales, Australia.-Description:It grows as a shrub from half a metres to two metres tall. It has angular, ridged branchlets and oval shaped leaves one to five centimetres long and two to nine millimetres wide.long, straight leaves from three to...
, and occasional hybrids with G. diffusa subsp. filipendula have also been reported.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to eastern New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. It occurs mainly from Gosford
Gosford, New South Wales
Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 76 km north of the Sydney central business district...
and Putty, south to the Parramatta River
Parramatta River
The Parramatta River is a waterway in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson, along with the smaller Lane Cove and Duck Rivers....
and Port Jackson
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
. There are also some disjunct populations that differ slightly from the Gosford form, but have been placed provisionally in this species. These occur near Lawson
Lawson, New South Wales
Lawson is a town in the Blue Mountains area of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Great Western Highway between Hazelbrook in the north east and Bullaburra in the west. At the 2006 census, Lawson had a population of 2,419 people. It has a station on the Main Western line...
in the lower Blue Mountains, just inland from Ulladulla
Ulladulla, New South Wales
Ulladulla is a coastal town in New South Wales, Australia in the City of Shoalhaven local government area. It is on the Princes Highway, about half way between the larger towns of Batemans Bay to the south and Nowra to the north and approximately 179 km south of Sydney...
, and near Nowra
Nowra, New South Wales
Nowra is a city in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. Located SSW and approximately by road south of the state capital of Sydney, it has an estimated population together with its twin-town of Bomaderry of 34,479. It is also the seat and commercial centre of the City of Shoalhaven...
. The species has also been reported to occur in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, for example in the 4th edition of A Census of the Vascular Plants of Victoria, but according to the Australian Plant Census these collections actually belong to a range of other species, specifically: G. alpivaga
Grevillea alpivaga
Grevillea alpivaga, also known as Buffalo Grevillea, is a species of the plant genus Grevillea. It is endemic to Victoria in Australia. The species grows as an erect to prostrate shrub, between 0.3 and 1 metre in height. Flowers usually appear between October and February in its native range...
, G. neurophylla
Grevillea neurophylla
Grevillea neurophylla, commonly known as Granite Grevillea, is a shrub species in the family Proteaceae. It is native to the states of New South Wales and Victoria in Australia. The species was first formally described by French botanist Michel Gandoger in Bulletin de la Societe Botanique de...
, G. patulifolia
Grevillea patulifolia
Grevillea patulifolia, commonly known as Swamp Grevillea, is a shrub species in the family Proteaceae. It is native to the states of New South Wales and Victoria in Australia....
, G. gariwerdensis
Grevillea gariwerdensis
Grevillea gariwerdensis is a species of the plant genus Grevillea. It is endemic to Victoria in Australia. The species grows as a low, suckering shrub, between 0.3 and 1 metre in height. Flowers usually appear between October and January in its native range...
and G. micrantha
Grevillea micrantha
Grevillea micrantha, also known as Small-flower Grevillea, is a shrub species which is endemic to Victoria, Australia. It grows to between 0.3 and 0.6 metres in height and has narrow leaves that are 1 to 4 cm in length and 0.6 to 1 mm in width...
.
It grows in moist but well-drained soils, mostly sandy soils over sandstone; its habitat is generally amongst shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
by eucalypt woodland.