Grevillea willisii

Grevillea willisii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
Order:	Proteales
Family:	Proteaceae
Genus:	Grevillea
Species:	G. willisii
Binomial name
Grevillea willisii R.V.Sm. & McGill.[1]

Grevillea willisii is a shrub species which is endemic to the eastern highlands of Victoria, in Australia.^[2] Common names include Omeo Grevillea and Rock Grevillea.^[2]

It has a spreading or habit, growing to between 2 and 4.5 metres high, and generally has a grey-green appearance.^[2][3] The leaves are slightly prickly and deeply lobed. Both the underside of the leaves and the stem are covered by dense, light-coloured hairs.^[3] Flowers appear in terminal spikes between September and January (early spring to mid summer) in its native range.^[2] These have cream perianths and pale yellow styles. The fruits have contrasting dark streaks.^[3]

The species was first formally described in 1975 in the journal Muelleria.^[1] The specific epithet honours James Hamlyn Willis, the Government Botanist of Victoria.^[3]

Two forms are recognised:

• A shorter-leaved (type) form. This occurs to the north and east of Omeo.
• A longer-leaved form from the south of Corryong, which has scented flowers.^[2]

A former subspecies G. willisii subsp. pachylostyla from the upper reaches of the Buchan River was promoted to species status (Grevillea pachylostyla) in 1994.^[4]

G. willisii occurs on rocky granite outcrops and near streams. ^[2]

The species has a ROTAP listing as "2RC-".^[5] It is listed as "Rare in Victoria" on the Department of Sustainability and Environment's Advisory List of Rare Or Threatened Plants In Victoria. ^[6]

Cultivation

Plants may be grown to attract birds to a garden, providing both protection for nests and a source of nectar. Plants are occasionally affected by leaf miners or chlorosis of the leaves. The species may be propagated by semi-mature cuttings, which may take up to 5 months to produce roots.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Grevillea willisii". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=Grevillea+willisii. Retrieved 2010-06-06. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "Grevillea willisii". Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/online-resources/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=45265. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Butler, Geoff (1993). "Grevillea willisii". Growing Australian Plants. http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp12/grevillea-willisii.html. Retrieved 2010-06-06. 
4. ^ "Grevillea pachylostyla". Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/online-resources/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=45266. 
5. ^ "Grevillea willisii". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Grevillea~willisii. Retrieved 2010-06-06. 
6. ^ "Advisory List of Rare Or Threatened Plants In Victoria - 2005". Department of Sustainability and Environment (Victoria). http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/dse/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/996B0477753A4204CA256DD4007F1CA528E305DE442CAC684A256DEA0024ACF6. Retrieved 2010-10-14.