Grevillea johnsonii

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Grevillea johnsonii
Grevillea johnsonii 15-05-2009 14-10-14.JPG
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Grevillea
Species:
G. johnsonii
Binomial name
Grevillea johnsonii

Grevillea johnsonii, commonly known as Johnson's grevillea or Johnson's spider flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a shrub with divided, needle-like leaves and red to orange flowers, and grows in rocky places.

Contents

Description

Grevillea johnsonii is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 2–4.5 m (7–15 ft) and has divided, almost pinnatisect leaves 100–250 mm (4–10 in) long in outline. The leaves have between five and ten, erect, linear lobes 0.7–1.5 mm (0.03–0.06 in) wide. The flowers are arranged in groups of between eight and ten flowers, 30–80 mm (1.2–3.1 in) long with a silky, red to orange perianth with soft hairs near the base. The gynoecium is 25–37 mm (1.0–1.5 in) long with a conspicuous, stalked, more or less spherical ovary. The style is red to orange with an oblique pollen presenter. Flowering occurs from September to November and the fruit is a hairy, more or less spherical follicle 10 mm (0.4 in) in diameter containing one or two seeds. [2] [3] [4] [5] The shrub species typically regenerates from soil stored seed. [5]

Taxonomy and naming

Grevillea johnsonii was first formally described in 1975 by Donald McGillivray in the journal Telopea from specimens collected by Lawrie Johnson near Kerrabee Mountain and the Sandy Hollow–Gulgong railway line. [6] The specific epithet (johnsonii) honours the collector of the type material, "whose perceptive insights into the Australian flora have added considerably to our understanding of many plant families". [5] The genus Grevillea was named after Charles Francis Greville, a patron of botany and President of the Royal Society. [7] Johnson was a taxonomic botanist, Director of the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney and also specialised in the family Proteaceae, to which Grevillea johnsonii belongs. Common names for this species include Johnson's grevillea [2] and Johnson's spider flower. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Grevillea johnsonii is endemic to New South Wales where it grows in rocky places on sandstone. [2] [8] The National Herbarium of New South Wales gives its distribution as "chiefly in the Goulburn and Capertee River catchments with a record from the Brogo River not verified". [4] The Australian Native Plants Society suggests that the "common garden red and cream form" occurs near the Brogo River, whereas the orange-flowered form "grows naturally in the Goulburn River catchment at Cox's Gap and several other close by areas". [9] The species grows natively at an altitude of 400-700m, where the annual rainfall is 600-700mm. [5]

It is closely related to the G. longistyla . [9] However, differences are evident through the colour of G. johnsonii, ranging from orange to pink in comparison to the orange and red of G. longistyla orange to red colours. [10] Both species were initially listed as forms of G. longistyla, but have since been separated with a specific status. [10]

Ecology

Grevillea johnsonii is known to attract honeyeaters, but they do not negatively impact the growth and establishment of the shrub. [9] The fungi Placoasterella baileyi and ''Seimatosporium grevilleae can cause leaf spot disease in this species. [5]

Conservation status

In 2001, the total population of G. johnsonii was estimated to be well over 1,000 plants. The ROTAP conservation rating of G. johnsonii is currently 2RCi, meaning the shrub species is rare, based on the low populations of G. johnsonii in the Goulburn River area. [8] This indicates that the species is inadequately reserved, with restricted distribution of less than 1000 over a range of 100km. [11] Despite the current rating, collections of the species in recent years has resulted in a proposal to downgrade the ROTAP listing from 2RCi to 2RCa, [8] indicating that the species is now adequately reserved with 1000 or more plants in a proclaimed reserve. [11]

During the 2019-2020 bushfires in southern Australia, the Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire Recovery Expert Panel released a "Provisional list of plants requiring urgent management intervention", with Grevillea johnsonii being mentioned as "high priority" in its conservation and recovery. It emphasised that its "fire-disease interaction" and the "cumulative exposure to high risks" required conservation action to prevent possible extinction. [12] However, the many native plants, including G. johnsonii are capable of regenerating after fire from epicormic buds on the trunks and/or branches, from a basal lignotuber. [9]

Uses

Use in horticulture

Grevillea johnsonii was introduced into regular cultivation in the 1950s by Australian botanist George Althofer. [9] The shrub species is regularly grown in Victoria in comparison to NSW, as the summer rain cannot sustain well drained soils during summer rains. [9] If G. johnsonii is propagated outside, it is most suitable to use semi-hardwood cuttings and use acidic to neutral, well drained soil. [3] It is important to propagate the shrub species in an area that does not maintain full sunlight exposure. [3] If it is propagated inside, it should be grown under glass in full light, whereby liquid fertiliser must be provided monthly. [3] Once established in the garden, the orange-flowered form tolerates a wide temperature range, including frost, and sets large numbers of seeds that germinate readily after soaking in smoked water. [9] Grevillea 'Bon Accord', a hybrid formed by a cross between G. johnsonii and G. wilsonii has been developed. The broad leaves of the Grevillea johnsonii are evergreen. [13] This species is most suited to a sheltered location, however full sunlight also benefits the species. Soil conditions include well drained soil with the species commonly growing in loam or sand. [3]

Grevillea johnsonii requires little to no pruning, however if it is propagated inside, more frequent pruning is necessary to restrict size. [3] Foliage in autumn, winter and spring is primarily green, however summer will flower with red, pink and orange forms. [3]

Grevillea johnsonii sometimes does not produce a strong root ball and may require a rootstock to be propagated effectively. Other species of the Grevillea are useful, such as Grevillea robusta . [14]

Use in floristry

The vase life of G. johnsonii flowers is limited because the flowers fade and drop their petals rather quickly. [15]

Grevillea 'Bon Accord'

A notable hybrid of G. johnsonii is Grevillea 'Bon Accord', a hybrid between G. johnsonii and Grevillea wilsonii . The hybrid arose in Victoria in 1982, and was registered in 1985 with the Australian Cultivar Registration Authority. [16]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Grevillea longifolia</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to New South Wales, Australia

Grevillea longifolia, commonly known as fern-leaf spider flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the Sydney Basin in New South Wales. It is an erect to spreading shrub with narrowly egg-shaped to almost linear leaves, and toothbrush-like groups of pinkish-fawn flowers with a pink to red style. It is fairly readily grown in gardens.

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<i>Grevillea longistyla</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to Queensland, Australia

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<i>Grevillea juniperina</i> Plant in family Proteaceae native in Australia

Grevillea juniperina, commonly known as juniper- or juniper-leaf grevillea or prickly spider-flower, is a plant of the family Proteaceae native to eastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland in Australia. Scottish botanist Robert Brown described the species in 1810, and seven subspecies are recognised. One subspecies, G. j. juniperina, is restricted to Western Sydney and environs and is threatened by loss of habitat and housing development.

<i>Grevillea victoriae</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to New South Wales and Victoria, Australia

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<i>Grevillea glossadenia</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to northern Queensland. Australia

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<i>Telopea oreades</i> Large shrub or small tree in the family Proteaceae native to southeastern Australia

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<i>Telopea truncata</i> Shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to Tasmania

Telopea truncata, commonly known as the Tasmanian waratah, is a plant in the family Proteaceae. It is endemic to Tasmania where it is found on moist acidic soils at altitudes of 600 to 1200 m (2000–4000 ft). Telopea truncata is a component of alpine eucalypt forest, rainforest and scrub communities. It grows as a multistemmed shrub to a height of 3 metres (10 ft), or occasionally as a small tree to 10 m (35 ft) high, with red flower heads, known as inflorescences, appearing over the Tasmanian summer and bearing 10 to 35 individual flowers. Yellow-flowered forms are occasionally seen, but do not form a population distinct from the rest of the species.

<i>Grevillea shiressii</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to New South Wales, Australia

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<i>Grevillea laurifolia</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to eastern Australia

Grevillea laurifolia, commonly known as laurel-leaf grevillea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a prostrate, trailing shrub with egg-shaped, heart-shaped or round leaves, and clusters of reddish to deep maroon flowers.

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<i>Persoonia procumbens</i> Species of shrub

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Grevillea banyabba, commonly known as Banyabba grevillea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to north-eastern New South Wales. It is an open shrub with simple, narrowly egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and red and green flowers.

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Grevillea calliantha, commonly known as Foote's grevillea, Cataby grevillea or black magic grevillea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to a restricted part of the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spreading, compact shrub with pinnatipartite leaves with linear lobes, and pale yellow to apricot-coloured flowers with a maroon-black to reddish style.

References

  1. ↑ "Grevillea johnsonii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Makinson, Robert O. "Grevillea johnsonii". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Grevillea johnsonii". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  4. 1 2 McGillivray, Donald J. (1975). "Australian Proteaceae: New Taxa and Notes". Telopea. 1 (1): 22–23. doi: 10.7751/telopea19753102 .
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (2000). "Ecology of Sydney Plant Species". Cunninghamia. 6 (4): 1057. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  6. ↑ "Grevillea johnsonii". APNI. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "Grevillea longifolia". Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 Bell, Stephen A.J. (2001). "Notes on the distribution and conservation status of some restricted plant species from sandstone environments of the upper Hunter Valley, New South Wales". Cunninghamia. 7 (1): 82. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Marriott, Neil (February 2016). "Grevillea johnsonii - orange-flowered form" (PDF). Grevillea Study Group Newsletter. 103: 13. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  10. 1 2 Mullins, E. (1974). Grevillea longistyla - Growing Native Plants. From https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp9/grevillea-longistyla.html
  11. 1 2 Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) - Australian Plants at Risk. (2010). From http://anpsa.org.au/coding.html
  12. ↑ "Provisional list of plants requiring urgent management intervention" (PDF). Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
  13. ↑ Roderick, M.L., Berry, S.L., Saunders, A.R. and Noble, I.R., 1999. On the relationship between the composition, morphology and function of leaves. Functional Ecology, 13(5), pp.696-710.
  14. ↑ Groesbeck, S.J., 1984. Cultural Studies on the Genus Grevillea in Hawaii (Doctoral dissertation).
  15. ↑ Joyce, D.C., Beal, P. and Shorter, A.J., 1996. Vase life characteristics of selected Grevillea. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 36(3), pp.379-382.
  16. ↑ "Grevillea 'Bon Accord'". Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
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