Appearance
"Grevillea banksii" is an erect, bushy to spindly shrub or slender tree that typically grows to a height of 2–10 m. It has mostly divided leaves with four to twelve narrowly elliptic to linear lobes 50–180 mm long and 5–15 mm wide with the edges turned down or rolled under. The flowers are arranged in more or less cylindrical groups near the ends of branches, each flower on a pedicel 3–10 mm long along a rachis 50–120 mm long, and are creamy-white or bright scarlet to crimson. The pistil is 32–50 mm long and usually glabrous. Flowering occurs from August to October and the fruit is a glabrous follicle 15–25 mm long.
Distribution
Banks' grevillea is mostly found on the Queensland coast from Ipswich to Yeppoon, but sometimes further inland. It mostly grows in woodland and forest, usually in flatter places.The species has also been introduced to Hawai'i and is an important woody weed in eastern Madagascar where it was introduced, with "Acacia dealbata", for erosion control.
Habitat
Banks' grevillea is mostly found on the Queensland coast from Ipswich to Yeppoon, but sometimes further inland. It mostly grows in woodland and forest, usually in flatter places.The species has also been introduced to Hawai'i and is an important woody weed in eastern Madagascar where it was introduced, with "Acacia dealbata", for erosion control.
Defense
The flowers and seed pods contain toxic hydrogen cyanide. The alkyl resorcinols in "G. banksii" and "Grevillea" 'Robyn Gordon' are responsible for contact dermatitis.Cultural
"Grevillea banksii" is one of the most widely cultivated grevilleas and id a parent of hybrids including "G." 'Robyn Gordon' and "G. 'Superb', "G." 'Misty Pink', "G". 'Pink Surprise', and "G." 'Ned Kelly'.References:
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