Key to the species of Grevillea
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1Some or all leaves either divided, or simple and toothed (juvenile leaves sometimes toothed in Grevillea aquifolium)2
1All leaves (inluding juvenile) simple and entire, never divided or lobed, never toothed30
3Floral rachises 12–16 cm long, long secund; tree 15–40 m highGrevillea robusta
3Floral rachises 2–5 cm long, subglobose; shrub 0.3–3 m highGrevillea huegelii
4Pistil 3.5–5.3 mm longGrevillea ramosissima
4Pistil 12–27.5 mm long5
5Unit conflorescences cylindric (can be shortly cylindric in Grevillea pachylostyla, and then conflorescences to 50 mm long, and ovary stipe 0.3–0.5 mm long), 50–120 mm long; perianth greyish white on outer surface, creamish white to light yellow on inner surface; leaves linear, with up to 6 linear lobes, 6–18 cm long, less than 2 mm wide; lower lamina usually completely obscured (except midvein) by the revolute margins; plants confined to mallee scrub, open shrubland, or Triodia communities, on yellow or red sands in the north-west VictoriaGrevillea pterosperma
5Unit conflorescences secund, 30–85 mm long; perianth red, pink, orange, yellow or brown, or cream with one of these colours; leaves usually more than 5 mm wide, if ever sublinear then less than c. 60 mm long; lower lamina exposed or enclosed; plants occuring in various areas of Victoria6
6Leaf undersurface indumentum moderately dense, with predominantly longitudinally aligned, straight, appressed or slightly ascending hairs, hairs not wavy or curled7
6Leaf undersurface indumentum sparse to dense, with curled or slightly to strongly wavy hairs (only slightly wavy in G. infecunda, G. repens and G. steiglitziana)11
7Floral rachis tomentose (shaggy) with ascending ± straight hairs; anthers poorly developed and with sparse pollen; floral bracts 2–3 mm long, usually persistent at anthesisGrevillea infecunda
7Floral rachis with straight silky-appressed hairs; anthers well-developed and with abundant pollen; floral bracts not more than 2.5 mm long, deciduous in bud8
8Leaf undersurface indumentum dense, entire surface hidden by hairs; leaves with primary lobes only, shallow to deep, lobes 1–3 per margin; bracts 0.3–0.9 mm long; perianth 7–10 mm long9
8Leaf undersurface indumentum sparse or almost glabrous, or with occasionally with numerous scattered hairs but with much of the surface visible between the hairs, the hairs very slightly wavy or straight or both on same leaf; leaves either more or less regularly spinose-denticulate or shallowly lobed (< 8 mm deep) with 5–15(–22) teeth or very shallow lobes per margin, or leaves usually more or less bipinnatifid; bracts 0.7–2.6 mm long; perianth 6–8 mm long10
9Lobes of leaves < 4 mm wide, narrowly linear to subulate, margins flat to recurved to revoluteGrevillea angustiloba →
9Lobes of leaves usually > 4 mm wide, narrowly to broadly triangular or rounded-oblong, not linear to subulate, margins almost flat to slightly recurvedGrevillea ilicifolia →
10Plants prostrate; pedicels 3–6 mm long; pistil 16–19 mm long; leaves entire or pungently denticulate, or primary lobes only; bracts falling before anthesisGrevillea repens
10Plants erect to spreading; pedicels 1–3 mm long; pistil 15–27 mm long; leaves bipinnatifid; usually some bracts persistent at anthesisGrevillea steiglitziana
11Robust erect shrub or small tree 4–8 m high; leaves 50–270 mm long, coarsely lobed (lobes 10–65 mm long); conflorescence 50–100 mm long; growing in moist gulliesGrevillea barklyana
11Spreading shrubs to 4 m high, but usually < 1.5 m high; leaves usually less than 50 mm long, juvenile leaves with 1-teeth or lobes (each less than 10 mm long); conflorescence less than 30 mm long; growing in sandy heaths12
12Ovary stipe 0.3–1.1 mm long; unit conflorescences many-flowered (20–90 flowers per conflorescence); flowers predominantly white to cream (although styles sometimes reddening with age)13
12Ovary stipe 1.8–4.4 mm long; unit conflorescences few- to many-flowered, sometimes pale but styles pink to red;14
13Most primary leaf-lobes further divided or toothed; conflorescence shortly cylindric or weakly secund, usually decurved-pendent; branchlets and floral rachis usually subsericeous with straight, ± appressed hairs)Grevillea pachylostyla
13Most primary leaf-lobes undivided; conflorescence strongly secund, projecting horizontally and erect (straight) on the peduncle; style cream, not changing colour after anthesis; branchlets and floral rachis with short woolly-pubescent indumentum of curled and twisted hairsGrevillea willisii
14Stem indumentum sericeous or subsericeous, or stem glabrous15
14Stem Indumentum villous or tomentose20
15Rachis of unit conflorescence tomentose to villous with ascending to spreading hairs16
15Rachis of unit conflorescence glabrous or with a sparse to dense silky, appressed indumentum17
16Pistil 12–16.5 mm long; anthers well-developed and with abundant pollen; leaf undersurface indumentum sparse with curled hairs or occasionally tomentose; conflorescence bicolouredGrevillea bedggoodiana
16Pistil 18–26 mm long; anthers poorly developed and with sparse pollen; leaf undersurface indumentum with slightly wavy hairs; conflorescence uniformly colouredGrevillea infecunda
17Leaf undersurface indumentum with hairs twisted, strongly wavy or curled; leaves with primary lobes only, shallow to deep, lobes 1–3 per margin; bracts 0.3–0.9 mm long;Grevillea ilicifolia →
17Leaf undersurface indumentum sparse or almost glabrous, or with occasionally with numerous scattered hairs, the hairs very slightly wavy or straight or both on same leaf; leaves either more or less regularly spinose-denticulate or shallowly lobed (< 8 mm deep) with 5–15(–22) teeth or very shallow lobes per margin, or leaves usually more or less bipinnatifid; bracts 0.7–2.6 mm long18
18Leaf undersurface indumentum more or less dense, hidden by hairs or almost so; anthers poorly developed and with sparse pollenGrevillea infecunda
18Leaf undersurface indumentum sparse with much of the surface visible between the hairs, or glabrous; anthers well-developed and with abundant pollen19
19Plants prostrate; pedicels 3–6 mm long; pistil 16–19 mm long; leaves entire or pungently denticulate, or primary lobes only; bracts falling before anthesisGrevillea repens
19Plants erect to spreading; pedicels 1–3 mm long; pistil 15–27 mm long; leaves bipinnatifid; usually some bracts persistent at anthesisGrevillea steiglitziana
21Leaf undersurface indumentum glabrous or with only scattered or patchily distributed suberect curled or wavy hairs, especially along veins; leaves mostly bipinnatifidGrevillea montis-cole →
21Leaf undersurface indumentum usually moderately densely hairy, the hairs strongly curled or slightly wavy; leaves usually with primary division only22
22Leaf undersurface indumentum with strongly curled hairs (in Victorian plants); anthers well-developed and with abundant pollenGrevillea aquifolium
22Leaf undersurface indumentum with slightly wavy hairs; anthers poorly developed and with sparse pollenGrevillea infecunda
23Mature leaves entire, elliptic, usually < 35 mm long and up to 6 mm wide, juvenile leaves with 2–4 variable triangular teeth; style-end scarcely wider than style (pollen presenter weakly conical and atrophied); anthers absent or atrophiedGrevillea aquifolium
23Mature leaves lobed, usually cuneate to rhombic or long oblong-elliptic (rarely shortly elliptic), or deeply divided and holly- or oak-like, usually > 35 mm long and > 6 mm wide; juvenile leaves lobed; style-end distinctly wider than style, discoid or hoof-shaped24
24Most floral bracts 5–7 (–12.5) mm long, and some bracts usually retained in inflorescences at anthesis; perianth loosely tomentose to villousGrevillea obtecta
24All floral bracts less than 4.5 mm long, variably persistent; perianth loosely sericeous, subsericeous, or tomentose25
25Peduncles glabrous or almost so or except near the apex, slender 0.4–0.5(–0.7) mm wide and wiry (10–)20–30 mm longGrevillea floripendula
25Peduncles tomentose or loosely so, or rarely with only scattered spreading hairs, peduncle usually relatively stout (0.6–)0.8–1.2(–1.5) mm wide, 5–15(–20) mm long26
26Leaf undersurface indumentum with slightly wavy, appressed and or ascending hairs; anthers poorly developed and with sparse pollenGrevillea infecunda
26Leaf undersurface indumentum with erect, suberect and or ascending twisted or curled hairs, or glabrous; anthers well-developed and with abundant pollen27
27Leaves coarsely dentate to pinnatifid; primary leaf lobes simple; flowers changing from green to pink at anthesis such that the conflorescence appears bicolouredGrevillea bedggoodiana
27Leaves pinnatisect or sometimes pinnatifid; at least some primary leaf-lobes further divided or toothed; conflorescences not appearing bicoloured28
28Largest floral bracts 2–4.5 mm long; upper surface of leaves glabrous; pistil 15.5–17 mm longGrevillea montis-cole →
28Floral bracts 1–2 mm long; upper surface of leaves hairy or glabrous; pistil 13.5–15.5 mm long29
29Leaves with primary lobes broadly toothed or simple; simple primary lobes 5–15 mm wide; upper surface of mature leaves with an open to sparse indumentum of minute, appressed, curled to wavy hairs, rarely glabrous; peduncle 0.8–1 mm wideGrevillea dryophylla
29Leaves with some primary lobes bearing narrowly triangular secondary lobes; simple primary lobes less than 5 mm wide; upper surface of mature leaves glabrous; peduncle 0.6–0.8 mm wideGrevillea microstegia
30Ovary glabrous31
30Ovary with few to many hairs (very few hairs in Grevillea burrowa and Grevillea callichlaena, difficult to observe in pressed specimens)55
31Outer surface of perianth glabrous; stipe of ovary gibbous, scarcely slimmer than ovary, with few to many spreading hairsGrevillea rosmarinifolia →
31Outer surface of perianth with hairs (sometimes inconspicuous); stipe glabrous, distinctly slimmer than ovary32
33Midvein on undersurface of leaf either concealed by the revolute margins, or exposed and bearing a dense appressed indumentum similar to that on the adjacent lamina; midvein on undersurface often reducing in prominence toward leaf apex; pistil 6–7.5 mm long; tepals white to cream, tinged with brown hairs on limbGrevillea australis
33Midvein on undersurface of leaf always exposed, either glabrous or bearing an open appressed indumentum (less dense than on adjacent lamina); midvein on undersurface uniform in prominence from base to apex; pistil 5–13 mm long; tepals white to cream (sometimes with brown hairs) or pink to mauve or deep reddish-purple34
34Perianth red-purple; white hairs of the inner perianth surface conspicuously displayed at anthesis; dorsal tepals each 1–2 mm wide; conflorescence dense, semi-secund; longest floral rachises usually 6–20 mm long; style with minute hairs and papillae over the apical 0.5–1.5 (–6) mmGrevillea confertifolia
34Perianth white, cream, pink, or light mauve; hairs of the inner surface of the perianth not conspicuous at anthesis; dorsal tepals each 0.5–1 mm wide; longest floral rachises usually 2–8 mm long; style usually with minute hairs and papillae over the apical 0.2–0.8 mm (G. linearifolia complex)35
35Inner surface of perianth glabrous, or occasionally with only a few scattered hairs (usually less than 0.2 mm long) surmounting a cushion-like pulvinus ± opposite the ovaryGrevillea micrantha
35Inner surface of perianth with a dense to scanty beard (hairs 0.2–1.0 mm long) ± opposite the ovary, at least on the ventral tepals36
37Most leaves 2.5–5 (–8) cm long; leaf undersurface enclosed except for midvein; eastern VictoriaGrevillea neurophylla →
37Most leaves less than 2.5 cm long; leaf undersurface usually with some subsericeous lamina exposed on either side of the midvein; confined to the Grampians regionGrevillea gariwerdensis
38Leaves mostly less than 2.5 cm long; leaf cross-section usually oblong, with the margins refracted more or less vertically downward from the plane of the (usually flat, occasionally slightly convex) upper surfaceGrevillea alpivaga
38Leaves (2–) 2.5–8 cm long; leaf cross-section obliquely elliptic, with the margins refracted at greater than or equal to 120° relative to the distinctly convex upper surface39
39Inner surface of perianth with a scanty beard, usually without hairs above; stipe of ovary usually less than 1 mm long; usually riparianGrevillea neurophylla →
39Inner surface of perianth with a profuse beard, with conspicuous hairs scattered above; stipe of ovary at least 1 mm long; sandy soils in heath or open woodlandGrevillea patulifolia
40Leaves needle-like, 10–22 mm long, 0.5–0.6 mm wide, angularly deltoid to trigonous in cross-section, lower surface usually concealedGrevillea juniperina
40Leaves never needle-like, > 1.5 mm wide, 20–135 mm long, leaves usually flat (apart from shortly revolute or recurved margins), lower surface usually exposed41
41Leaf apices pungent, 20–42 mm long, 2–6 mm wide, narrowly elliptic42
41Leaf apices obtuse to acute 20–100(–135) mm long, 6–35(–50) mm wide, leaf shape various (if ever narrowly elliptic then leaves either > 42 mm or > 8 mm wide)43
42Outer surface of perianth redGrevillea 'Poorinda Constance'
42Outer surface of perianth apricot-colouredGrevillea 'Poorinda Queen'
43Conflorescences axillary or occasionally cauline; branches strongly angular in cross-section, the longitudinal ribs prominent, branches usually with strongly ascending to erect branches; unit conflorescence a loose, often subsecund, subglobose clusterGrevillea dimorpha
43Conflorescences terminal on short lateral branchlets or axillary; with spreading to ascending branches; branches terete, subterete or moderately angular in cross-section near apex of shoot in cross-section, ribbing absent or hidden or only slightly raised; unit conflorescence subcylindric, subconical, or a loose subglobose cluster44
44Leaf upper surface distinctly granulose; branchlets subvillous; leaf lower surface loosely subvillous to villous45
44Leaf upper surface smooth (occasionally microscopically asperulous (40X magnification) in Grevillea miqueliana subsp. miqueliana and G. victoriae subsp. nivalis), smooth to touch, never granulose), glabrous to variably pubescent; branchlets variably pubescent; leaf lower surface variably pubescent46
45Flower buds at all developmental stages wholly reddish-ferruginous; perianth outer surface below the limb densely subvillous, epidermis usually not visible or occasionally partially visible; tepal inner surface uniformly pinkish-redGrevillea callichlaena
45Very early flower buds with the perianth (below the limb) usually pale silvery-lilac, maturing to pink or pinkish red, perianth-limb dirty brownish-grey; perianth inner surface bichromaticGrevillea miqueliana →
46Branchlets densely subvillous, densely tomentose or subtomentose; leaf lower surface indumentum various; pollen-presenter lateral or oblique to the syle, convex or concave in cross-section47
46Branchlet densely sericeous or subsericeous; leaf lower surface indumentum usually sericeous; pollen-presenter oblique to the style, flat or slightly convex in cross-section50
47Pollen-presenter lateral to style-end; face of pollen-presenter usually strongly concave (rarely flattened) in cross-section, base concurrent with the styleGrevillea parvula
47Pollen-presenter strongly oblique to style-end; face of pollen-presenter convex in cross-section, base not concurrent with style48
48Leaf undersurface indumentum subsericeous or occasionally densely subtomentose (epidermis not visible); the inner surface of the recurved portion of the perianth below the limb in open flower monochromaticGrevillea victoriae →
48Leaf undersurface indumentum loosely sericeous or with scattered mutually aligned appressed hairs (epidermis usually clearly visible), or loosely to moderarely subtomentose (epidermis visible), or loosely subvillous (epidermis visible); the inner surface surface of the recurved portion of the perianth below the limb in an open flower monochromatic or bichromatic49
49Leaf length to width ratio (3.6:1–)4.0–6.0:1(–8.0:1); floral bracts 1.0–1.5(–2) mm long; outer surface of ventral tepals uniformly coloured, without a central blotchGrevillea monslacana
49Leaf length to width ratio 1.5–4.0:1; floral bracts 2.0–4.2 mm long; outer surface of ventral tepals usually with a central blotch and usually red or pinkish-red towards base and apex of the perianthGrevillea miqueliana →
50Very early flower buds wth a purplish-pink, lilac or pale pink perianth below the limb, limb pale brown or dirty greyish brown; the inner surface of the recurved portion of the perianth below the limb in an open flower usually bichromaticGrevillea miqueliana →
50Very early flower buds wholly ferruginous or perianth below the limb occasionally reddish or limb occasionally tan-coloured; the inner surface of the recurved portion of the perianth below the limb in an open flower monochromatic, the outer surface of ventral tepals uniformly coloured, without a central blotch51
51Leaf undersurface with short curled to strongly wavy hairs; flower buds reflexed at > 90°Grevillea oxyantha
51Leaf undersurface always with straight or nearly straight hairs; flower buds either not reflexed or if reflexed then at or < 90°52
52Perianth-limb subacute in most flowers; flower buds reflexed at or < 90°; ovary sometimes with minute spreading hairsGrevillea burrowa
52Perianth-limb obtuse (rarely subacute in G. brevifolia at Merryangaah Peak in NSW); flower buds not reflexed or reflexed at or less than 90°; ovary always glabrous53
53Pollen-presenter lateral to style-end, base concurrent with the style; perianth outer surface below the limb red reddish-pink, pink, orange, yellowish or creamGrevillea polychroma
53Pollen-presenter oblique to style-end, base not concurrent with the style; perianth outer surface below the limb red or reddish-pink54
54Leaves (8–) 21–38(–49) mm x 6–16(–20) mm wide; leaf length to width ratio 2:1; floral rachis (7–)15–20(–35) mm long; unit conflorescence with (14–)20–22(–30) flowersGrevillea brevifolia
54Leaves (20–)35–120(–200) mm x (7–)10–35(–50) mm wide; leaf length to width ratio 2:1–5:1(6:1); floral rachis (8–)17–66(–87) mm long; unit conflorescence with (16–)22–48(–68) flowersGrevillea victoriae →
55Perianth-limb acute or drawn into a long, finely-pointed tip; style green; leaves 1–57.5 cm long, 0.3–51.5 cm wideGrevillea arenaria
55Perianth obtuse; style pink-red; leaves 20–105 mm long, 20–55 mm wide56
57Outer surface of perianth glabrous58
57Outer surface of perianth with hairs (sometimes few and/or confined to limb segments at apex of tepals)60
58Pistils 8–10.5 mm long; style purplish, perianth cream; lower surface of mature leaves glabrous (sparsely hairy when immature)Grevillea jephcottii
58Pistils 13–23 mm long; style red to pink, or rarely light green to yellow; lower surface of mature leaves sometimes enclosed by revolute margins, hairy or rarely glabrous59
59Style pubescent to villous; ovary subsessile, villous; upper surface of leaf usually villous or loosely so; leaves usually thick-textured (sometimes sausage-like when margins very revolute)Grevillea lanigera
59Style glabrous or only sparsely hairy; stipe of ovary ventrally gibbous; ovary usually only hairy in the basal half, glabrous or nearly so above; upper surface of leaf glabrous or with few hairs; leaves thin-textured; leaf apex usually tapering evenly into a weak to subpungent pointGrevillea rosmarinifolia →
60Unit conflorescences cylindric 50–120 mm long; perianth greyish white on outer surface, creamish white to light yellow on inner surface; leaves linear, 6–18 cm long, less than 2 mm wide; lower lamina usually completely obscured (except midvein) by the revolute margins; plants confined to mallee scrub, open shrubland, or Triodia communities, on yellow or red sands in the north-west VictoriaGrevillea pterosperma
60Unit conflorescences less than 5 cm long; perianth red, pink, orange, yellow or brown, or cream with one of these colours; leaves simple and entire, usually more than 5 mm wide, if ever sublinear then less than c. 4 cm long; lower lamina exposed or enclosed; plants occuring in various areas of Victoria61
61Ovary with only occasional, minute, patent hairs, virtually glabrous; leaves usually 19–28(–43) mm wideGrevillea callichlaena
61Ovary with a sericeous or villous indumentum; leaves 1.5–15 mm wide (rarely to 35 mm wide in Grevillea floribunda)62
62Ovary stipitate, stipe 1.2–2.5 mm long; leaves often rigid and pungent-pointedGrevillea lavandulacea
62Ovary sessile; leaves never pungent-pointed63
63Nectary spreading and prominent, ± linguiform (tongue-like), projecting 1–3 mm beyond the torus into the basal pouch of the perianthGrevillea alpina
63Nectary U- to V-shaped or cushion-like, erect or projecting less than 1 mm into the perianth pouch64
64Floral bracts conspicuous (especially on young conflorescences), 2.5–7 mm long, 2–5.5 mm wide, persistent to anthesis or after; leaves linear to narrowly oblong-elliptic, usually 30–75 mm long, 1-mm wideGrevillea polybractea
64Floral bracts inconspicuous, up to 2.5 mm long and 2 mm wide, usually deciduous in early-to mid-bud stage (rarely persistent, not conspicuous); leaves broadly linear to oblong-elliptic or ovate to almost round, 5–80 mm long, 5–18 mm wide65
65Floral rachises (distal from most basal pedicel scar) more than 10 mm long; outer surface of perianth with a dense indumentum of rust-coloured hairs; tepals usually persistent to fruiting stageGrevillea floribunda
65Floral rachises less than 10 mm long; outer surface of perianth with a sparse to dense indumentum of whitish to rust-coloured hairs; tepals deciduous soon after anthesis66
66Nectary relatively conspicuous and prominent, extending more than 1 mm above rim of torus; perianth usually red and yellow; habit suckeringGrevillea celata
66Nectary inconspicuous, extending less than 1 mm above rim of torus; perianth yellow or gold; habit not suckeringGrevillea chrysophaea
67Hairs on ovary appressed (rarely ascending), regularly aligned; floral bracts to 1.0 mm long, deciduous in bud; style-end tapered smoothly into style, with dorsal side of style-end convex; hairs on outer surface of perianth appressedGrevillea ilicifolia →
67Hairs on ovary ± spreading in several directions; floral bracts 1.3–4.0 mm long, usually persistent at or near anthesis; style-end abruptly contracted into the style with dorsal side of style-end concave; hairs on outer surface of perianth ascending to spreadingGrevillea aquifolium
Modified from: Makinson, R.O. (1996). Grevillea. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J. (eds), Flora of Victoria. Vol. 3. Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae. Inkata Press, Melbourne.