Acanthus-leaved Grevillea

Appearance

''Grevillea acanthifolia'' is an erect or spreading shrub which usually grows to a height of 0.5 m but sometimes to 3 m tall and 4 m wide. The leaves have 9 to 14 main lobes and are 4–9 cm long and 3–7 cm wide, each lobe sometimes further divided and linear to triangular or wedge-shaped with a sharp tip. The leaves are bright green, stiff and prickly.

The flowers are arranged in one-sided, "toothbrush"-like group, 3–10 cm long. The small sepals and petals are pale green to grey and hairy on the outside and glabrous inside. The style is 20–28 mm long and red, tipped with a green pollen presenter. Flowering occurs throughout the year but mainly from October to February and the fruit that follows is a hairy follicle with reddish markings.

Naming

''Grevillea acanthifolia'' was first formally described in 1825 by Allan Cunningham from a specimen he collected on John Oxley's 1817 expedition. Cunningham found the species growing in "peaty bogs on the Blue Mountains and [on the] banks of Cox's River". The specific epithet is a derived from the name of the genus ''Acanthus'' and the Latin word ''folium'' meaning "a leaf" referring to the similarity of the leaves of this species to those of ''Acanthus''.

The names of three subspecies are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:
⤷ ''Grevillea acanthifolia'' A.Cunn. subsp. ''acanthifolia'' which has its leaf lobes egg-shaped or wedge-shaped, not linear and which grows in swampy places or on wet rocks in the Blue Mountains;
⤷ ''Grevillea acanthifolia'' subsp. ''paludosa'' Makinson & Albr. commonly known as bog grevillea which is an erect shrub growing to a height of 3 m with narrow, tapering or linear leaf lobes which are more or less hairy on the lower surface and which grows in swamps an on stream sides at high altitudes, inland from Bega;
⤷ ''Grevillea acanthifolia'' subsp. ''stenomera'' McGill. which usually only grows to a height of less than 1 m , has narrow, tapering or linear and glabrous leaf lobes and which grows on the Northern Tablelands and higher parts of the North Coast.

''Grevillea × gaudichaudii'' is a hybrid derived from ''G. acanthifolia'' and ''Grevillea laurifolia''.

Distribution

This grevillea only grows in New South Wales, usually at higher altitudes and in wet or boggy areas.

Status

Subspecies ''stenomera'' is classified in the ROTAP system as 3RC- meaning that it has a wide range but small populations and is rare, but at least some populations are in reserves and the species not at present under threat. Subspecies ''paludosa'' is classified as "Endangered" under the ''NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act'' and under the Commonwealth Government ''Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999'' Act. The main threats to its survival are habitat loss, changes to river flow regimes and trampling and grazing by stray domestic animals.

Habitat

This grevillea only grows in New South Wales, usually at higher altitudes and in wet or boggy areas.

Cultural

Subspecies ''acanthifolia'' of this grevillea is grown in some gardens but is sometimes unreliable at low altitudes. It grows best in a sunny position and is tolerant of heavy frosts.