Grevillea juniperina

Juniper Grevillea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Order:	Proteales
Family:	Proteaceae
Genus:	Grevillea
Species:	G. juniperina
Binomial name
	Grevillea juniperina; R.Br.

Grevillea juniperina, commonly known as Juniper Grevillea, is a shrub which is endemic to eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland in Australia.

It has a spreading or erect habit and it grows to between 0.2 and 3 metres in height. The leaves are prickly and are 0.5 to 3.5 cm long and 0.5 to 6 mm wide. Flowering occurs throughout the year, peaking between mid winter and early summer. The spider-like flowers are red, pink, orange, yellow or greenish.

Taxonomy

The type specimen for this species was collected from Port Jackson area and was described by botanist Robert Brown in 1810 who gave it the specific epithet juniperina which alludes to its juniper-like foliage.

There are currently seven recognised subspecies:

G. juniperina subsp. allojohnsonii Makinson - red flowers
G. juniperina subsp. amphitricha - from the Shoalhaven River area
G. juniperina subsp. fortis Makinson - mostly within the ACT
G. juniperina R.Br. subsp. juniperina - endemic to western Sydney
G. juniperina subsp. sulphurea (A.Cunn.) Makinson (formerly var. trinervata)
G. juniperina subsp. trinervis (R.Br.) (formerly Grevillea trinervis)
G. juniperina subsp. villosa Makinson - from the Braidwood / Currockbilly area.

G. juniperina subsp. juniperina is listed as a vulnerable species on Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 in New South Wales.

Cultivars

A number of cultivars have been selected for horticultural use, including the following:

'Lunar Light' - variegated leaves and orange-pink flowers
'Molonglo' - low spreading habit, larger orange flowers with red styles

References