Grevillea mucronulata

taxobox
name = Green Spider Flower
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
ordo = Proteales
familia = Proteaceae
genus = "Grevillea"
species = "G. mucronulata "
binomial = "Grevillea mucronulata"
binomial_authority = R.Br.|

"Grevillea mucronulata", also known as Green Spider Flower, is a shrub which is endemic to New South Wales in Australia.

Description

This species is a spreading to erect shrub which usually grows to between 0.3 and 2 metres in height. Its leaves are elliptic, obovate or round. The green flowers appear predominantly from late autumn to mid spring (May to October in Australia) .

Distribution

The species occurs in dry sclerophyll woodland or heathland in the upper Hunter Valley, the Sydney region and southward along the coast towards Eden where it is found in isolated pockets.

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described in 1810 by botanist Robert Brown with reference to the type specimen collected from Port Jackson.

Synonyms include:
* "Embothrium acuminatum" (R.Br.) Dum.Cours.
* "Grevillea acuminata" R.Br.
* "Grevillea acuminata" A.Cunn. ex Meisn. nom. inval.
* "Grevillea attenuata" A.Cunn. ex Meisn.
* "Grevillea cinerea" R.Br.
* "Grevillea cinerea" R.Br. var. "cinerea"
* "Grevillea cinerea" var. "angustifolia" Benth.
* "Grevillea cinerea" var. "myrtacea" Meisn.
* "Grevillea mucronulata" var. "angustifolia" Benth.
* "Grevillea myrtacea" Sieber ex Spreng.
* "Grevillea myrtacea" Sieber ex Schult. & Schult.f nom. illeg.

Natural hybrids are formed with other species including:
*"Grevillea juniperina" subsp. "juniperina"
*"Grevillea arenaria" subsp. "arenaria"

A number of naturally occurring forms have been noted as follows:
* 'Lower Blue Mountains form'
* 'Cumberland Plain form'
* 'large-leaved form'
* 'Picton form'.

Cultivation

As the green flowers are camouflaged within the foliage, this species has not proved as popular in horticulture as other species within the genus, beyond being grown by collectors.

Cultural references

A 50c Australian postage stamp depicting the Green Spider Flower was issued in February 2007.

ee also

*List of flora on stamps of Australia

References

*Flora of Australia Online|name="Grevillea mucronulata" |id=2889
*APNI | name = "Grevillea mucronulata" R.Br. | id = 41985
* [http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Grevillea~mucronulata PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online: "Grevillea mucronulata"]
* [http://www.anbg.gov.au/stamps/stamp-grevillea-mucronulata-2007.html Australian National Botanic Gardens: Flora Stamps - "Grevillea mucronulata" ]

External links

* [http://www.chah.gov.au/images/photo_cd/630930713430/007.html Australian National Botanic Gardens: "Grevillea mucronulata" (photo)]