Grevillea acerata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grevillea acerata |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| cult. Hunter Region Botanic Gardens | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Grevillea
|
| Species: |
acerata
|
Grevillea acerata is a special plant that belongs to the Proteaceae family. This plant is found only in New South Wales, Australia. It's a type of shrub that spreads out and has unique leaves and flowers.
What it Looks Like
Grevillea acerata is a spreading shrub that usually grows to be about 0.6 to 1.3 meters (2 to 4 feet) tall. Its leaves are long and narrow, like thin lines. They are about 10 to 30 millimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) long and 1 to 2 millimeters (0.04 to 0.08 inches) wide. The edges of the leaves are rolled under, and the underside is covered with soft, silky or woolly hairs.
The flowers of this plant grow in round clusters, about 10 to 20 millimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) across, at the ends of the branches. The flower parts, called tepals, are covered in woolly hairs that are grey or cream-colored. Near the bottom of the flower, these hairs can be a rusty color. The central part of the flower, called the pistil, is about 9 to 12 millimeters (0.35 to 0.47 inches) long and also has hairs.
Grevillea acerata usually blooms in spring, but you might see its flowers at other times of the year too. After the flowers, it produces a hairy, oval-shaped fruit called a follicle. This fruit looks a bit wrinkled.
This grevillea plant looks a lot like two other types of grevilleas: Grevillea sphacelata and G. buxifolia.
How it Got its Name
The plant Grevillea acerata was officially described in 1986 by a scientist named Donald McGillivray. He found a sample of the plant in the Gibraltar Range National Park back in 1973. He wrote about it in his book, "New Names in Grevillea (Proteaceae)".
The second part of its name, acerata, comes from a Latin word. It means "mingled with chaff."
Where it Grows
You can find Grevillea acerata growing in woodlands, forests, and heathlands. It prefers soils that come from granite rock. This plant is only known to grow in the Gibraltar Range National Park and a nearby area called Glen Elgin, which is east of Glen Innes.
Images for kids
-
Grevillea acerata in the Gibraltar Range National Park
