Grevillea spinosa, commonly known as tjiilka-tjiilka,[2] is species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to inland Western Australia. It is a dense, prickly shrub with mostly pinnatipartite leaves with rigid, sharply-pointed linear lobes, and erect clusters of reddish to blackish green flowers with a bright yellow to orange style.
| Grevillea spinosa | |
|---|---|
| |
| In the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Grevillea |
| Species: | G. spinosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Grevillea spinosa | |
Description
editGrevillea spinosa is a dense, prickly shrub that typically grows to 1–2.5 mm (0.039–0.098 in) high and 3 m (9.8 ft) wide. Its leaves are usually pinnatipartite, 30–65 mm (1.2–2.6 in) long with 5 to 11 rigid, sharply-pointed, linear lobes, the longest lobes 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) long and 1.0–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) wide. The edges of the leaves are rolled under, enclosing the lower surface apart from the midvein. The flower are arranged in clusters on one side of a rachis 40–90 mm (1.6–3.5 in) long and are green to fawn, later reddish to blackish green with a bright yellow to orange style, the pistil 17–22 mm (0.67–0.87 in) long. Flowering mainly occurs from May to September, and the fruit is a woolly-hairy follicle 8.5–14 mm (0.33–0.55 in) long.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy
editGrevillea spinosa was first formally described by the botanist Donald McGillivray in 1986 as a part of the work New Names in Grevillea (Proteaceae) from specimens collected on the Canning Stock Route in 1942.[5] The specific epithet (spinosa) is means "spiny", referring to the leaves.[2][6]
Distribution
editTjiilka-tjiilka is found around Wiluna from the Canning Stock Route to the Little Sandy Desert and as far south as Yeelirrie Station. It grows on stony ridges and in gravelly, sandy or loamy soils often over sandstone.[3]
Conservation status
editThis grevillea is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Grevillea spinosa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ a b c Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray A. (1991). Banksias, waratahs & grevilleas : and all other plants in the Australian Proteaceae family. North Ryde, NSW, Australia: Angus & Robertson. p. 334. ISBN 0207172773.
- ^ a b "Grevillea spinosa". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Grevillea spinosa". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Grevillea spinosa". APNI. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 311. ISBN 9780958034180.