Grevillea metamorpha is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to an area in the Mid West region of Western Australia. It is an erect, spindly shrub with three types of divided leaves, and clusters of white, silky-hairy flowers.
| Grevillea metamorpha | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Grevillea |
| Species: | G. metamorpha
|
| Binomial name | |
| Grevillea metamorpha | |
Description
editGrevillea metamorpha is an erect, spindly shrub that typically grows to a height of up to about 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in), its branchelts covered with soft, woolly hairs. There are three types of divided leaves 14–24 mm (0.55–0.94 in) long and 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in) wide in outline, on mature plants. Leaves on non-flowering branches are wedge-shaped to trowel-shaped with five more or less triangular lobes 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) wide. Leaves on the lower part of branches bearing flowers are deeply divided with three lobes, the lobes further divided with triangular lobes 2–6 mm (0.079–0.236 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide. Leaves nearest the flowers are similar to the latter, sometimes more deeply divided with up to five narrowly triangular to linear lobes 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) long and about 1 mm (0.039 in) wide. The flowers are arranged in dome-shaped clusters and are white and silky-hairy, the pistil about 3 mm (0.12 in) long. Flowering occurs in September, and the fruit is an elliptic follicle 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) long.[2][3]
Taxonomy
editGrevillea metamorpha was first formally described in 2000 by Robert Makinson in the Flora of Australia from specimens collected by Michael Clyde Hislop near the Green Head-Coorow road in 1995. The specific epithet (metamorpha) means "changing form", referring to the transition in leaf form on the floral branches.[4]
Distribution and habitat
editThis grevillea is only known from the type location in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion of south-western Western Australia, where it grows along a creekline.[2][3]
Conservation status
editGrevillea metamorpha is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[3] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Grevillea metamorpha". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ a b "Grevillea metamorpha". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ a b c "Grevillea metamorpha". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Grevillea metamorpha". APNI. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 7 July 2022.