Grevillea formosa explained

Grevillea formosa, also known as the Mount Brockman grevillea,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. It is a prostrate to sprawling shrub with deeply divided leaves, the lobes sometimes further divided, the end leaflets linear, and green flowers that turn bright golden-yellow.

Description

Grevillea formosa is a sprawling shrub that typically grows to a height of up to, with trailing branches up to long. Its leaves are divided, long with 5 to 26 erect, linear leaflets, sometimes further divided, the end lobes long and wide. The edges of the leaflets are rolled under, but are not sharply-pointed. The flowers are arranged in toothbrush-like clusters along a rachis long. The flowers are green, turning bright golden-yellow as they age, the pistil long. Flowering occurs from January to March and the fruit is a shaggy-hairy follicle long.[2]

Taxonomy

Grevillea formosa was first formally described in 1986 by Donald McGillivray in his book New Names in Grevillea (Proteaceae), based on specimens collected in 1973.[3] The specific epithet (formosa) means "beautifully-formed".[4]

Distribution and habitat

This grevillea grows in rocky places in the Pine Creek and Arnhem Plateau bioregions of western Arnhem Land.

Conservation status

Grevillea formosa is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and under the Northern Territory Government Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act. Despite the species' restricted distribution, the population appears stable and there are no major threats affecting it at present or in the near future. No direct conservation measures are required for this species.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Grevillea formosa . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 24 April 2022.
  2. Web site: Grevillea formosa . Northern Territory Government . 24 April 2022.
  3. Web site: Grevillea formosa. APNI. 24 April 2022.
  4. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 201 . 3rd.
  5. Makinson, R. . 2020 . Grevillea formosa . 2020 . e.T113018265A113308021 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T113018265A113308021.en . 6 January 2024.