Grevillea benthamiana explained

Grevillea benthamiana is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the Northern Territory. It is a shrub with bipinnate leaves that have linear lobes, and reddish flowers that turn black.

Description

Grevillea benthamiana is a shrub that typically grows to a height of . Its leaves are bipinnate, long and wide in outline, and with 14 to 24 lobes that are further divided, the end lobes linear to narrow triangular, long and wide. The end lobes are rigid and sharply pointed with the edges rolled under. The flowers are arranged in clusters on or near the ends of branchlets, the rachis long, each flower on a pedicel long. The flowers are pinkish-red to purple-red, turning black as they age, and the pistil is long. Flowering occurs from June to August and the fruit is a glabrous follicle long.[1] [2]

Taxonomy

Grevillea benthamiana was first formally described in 1986 by Donald McGillivray in his book New Names in Grevillea (Proteaceae), based on specimens he collected in 1978.[3] The specific epithet (benthamiana) honours George Bentham.[4]

Distribution and habitat

This grevillea grows in low, open woodland and is restricted to the plateaus and escarpments of the Daly River basin.

Conservation status

Grevillea benthamiana is listed as "Near-threatened" under the Northern Territory Government and as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Grevillea benthamiana . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 13 January 2022.
  2. Web site: Grevillea benthamiana . Northern Territory Government . 13 January 2022.
  3. Web site: Grevillea benthamiana. APNI. 9 January 2022.
  4. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 145 . 3rd.
  5. Olde, P. . 2020 . Grevillea benthamiana . 2020 . e.T112647223A113307701 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T112647223A113307701.en . 21 December 2023.