Linear-leaf grevillea facts for kids
Grevillea linearifolia is a special kind of shrub that grows only in New South Wales, Australia. It's known for its pretty white flowers and long, thin leaves.
Quick facts for kids Linear-leaf grevillea |
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| Grevillea linearifolia photographed at the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, Sydney | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Grevillea
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| Species: |
linearifolia
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What Does It Look Like?
This plant is an upright, open shrub. It usually grows between one and two metres tall, but sometimes it can reach three metres. Its branches are a bit angular and ridged.
The leaves of Grevillea linearifolia are long and straight. They can be from three to eleven centimetres long. They are also quite narrow, only one to five millimetres wide.
The flowers are usually white. Sometimes they have a very light pink colour. Like other Grevillea plants, its flowers grow in a cluster. This cluster is called an inflorescence, which means many flowers grow together on one stem.
How It Got Its Name
Scientists give every plant a special name. The first time this plant was officially described was in 1793. A scientist named James Edward Smith called it Embothrium sericeum var. angustifolium.
However, another scientist, Antonio José Cavanilles, described the same plant in 1797. He named it Embothrium linearifolium. Later, in 1917, George Claridge Druce moved Cavanilles' plant into the Grevillea group. This is how it got its current name, Grevillea linearifolia. Smith's earlier name was not found until the year 2000.
Sometimes, it can be tricky for scientists to tell Grevillea linearifolia apart from other similar plants. This plant can sometimes mix its features with other Grevillea species. For example, it might look a bit like G. parviflora or G. patulifolia.
It also often creates hybrids with G. sericea. A hybrid plant is one that has parents from two different species. This means Grevillea linearifolia can sometimes have offspring with G. sericea.
Where Does It Live?
Grevillea linearifolia is found only in eastern New South Wales, Australia. It mostly grows in areas from Gosford and Putty, stretching south to the Parramatta River and Port Jackson.
There are also some smaller groups of these plants that grow in different places. These are called "disjunct populations," meaning they are separated from the main group. These smaller groups are found near Lawson in the Blue Mountains, and also near Ulladulla and Nowra.
This plant likes to grow in soil that is moist but drains well. It prefers sandy soils that are often found over sandstone rocks. You can usually find it growing among other shrubs in eucalypt woodland areas.
See also
In Spanish: Grevillea linearifolia para niños
