Grevillea humifusa

taxobox
name = Spreading Grevillea
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
ordo = Proteales
familia = Proteaceae
genus = "Grevillea"
species = "G. humifusa "
binomial = "Grevillea humifusa"
binomial_authority = Olde & Marriott|

"Grevillea humifusa", also known as Spreading Grevillea, is a prostrate shrub found only in a localised area in Western Australia and is considered critically endangered in the wild.

Description

The trailing stems, extending up to 3 metres in length from a lignotuber, support grey-green leaves which are 1.5 to 2 cm long. The pink to red flowers appear during spring. They occur in racemes, up to 2 cm long, at the end of branches.

Distribution

The species is only found in a single population near Eneabba, south of Geraldton. The land that the 1500 plants are found on comprises private pasture and adjoining road reserves.

Taxonomy

Specimens of "Grevillea humifusa" were originally collected by H. Demarz of Kings Park and Botanic Garden from the Eneabba area in 1968.

Prior to attaining species status, "Grevillea humifusa" was known by the following synonyms.
*"Grevillea" sp. Eragilga P. Olde
*"Grevillea thelemanniana" 'form e' D.J.McGillivray & R.O.Makinson (1993)

Additionally, it was known by the following names in cultivation:
*"Grevillea thelemanniana" (prostrate form)
*"Grevillea thelemanniana" (grey-leaf form)

Endangered status

"Grevillea humifusa" is considered to be under threat in its native habitat and has received legislative protection at both state and federal level as follows:
*Declared (in 1996) as "Rare Flora" under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950
*Listed as "Endangered" under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

References

*APNI | name = "Grevillea humifusa" Olde & Marriott | id = 202118
* [http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/g-humifusa/pubs/g-humifusa.pdf Stack G. and English V. (2003) Speading Grevillea ("Grevillea humifusa") Interim Recovery Plan 2003-2008 Department of Conservation and Land Management Western Australian Threatened Species and Communities Unit. (PDF)]
* [http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/flora?f=090&level=s&id=15987 FloraBase: the West Australian flora: "Grevillea humifusa"]
* [http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=61182 Department of the Environment and Water Resources Species Profile and Threats Database: "Grevillea humifusa"]
* [http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/abif/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=2722 Flora of Australia online: "Grevillea humifusa"]