Grevillea macleayana (Mc Gill.) Olde & Marriott

Growth Form and Size

Grevillea macleayana, commonly known as Jervis Bay grevillea, is a spreading to erect shrub that usually grows 1 to 3 metres (3 feet 3 inches to 9 feet 10 inches) tall.

Leaf Shape and Dimensions

Its leaves are typically elliptic to egg-shaped, 25 to 200 millimetres (0.98 to 7.87 inches) long and 10 to 80 millimetres (0.39 to 3.15 inches) wide. Some leaves have two to five oblong lobes that measure 10 to 30 millimetres (0.39 to 1.18 inches) long and 10 to 20 millimetres (0.39 to 0.79 inches) wide.

Leaf Surface Features

The lower surface of the leaves is densely covered in soft hairs.

Flower Arrangement and Coloration

The flowers are arranged along one side of a 40 to 50 millimetre (1.6 to 2.0 inch) long rachis, and are greenish-white to greyish pink with a pink to red style. The pistil measures 22 to 28.6 millimetres (0.87 to 1.13 inches) long.

Flowering Period and Fruit

Flowering takes place from September to January, and the fruit is a woolly-hairy follicle 12 to 19 millimetres (0.47 to 0.75 inches) long.

Recognized Forms

There are two recognized distinct forms of this species.

Coastal Form Characteristics

The coastal form occurs in open eucalypt woodland or heath from Jervis Bay to Ulladulla, and typically grows as an open shrub 2 to 3 metres (6.6 to 9.8 feet) tall, with mostly entire leaves, a small number of which are lobed, that are elliptic in shape.

Woolly Form Characteristics

The woolly form occurs near Ulladulla and Bundanoon, and has coarse, usually lobed leaves and flowers covered in a woolly indumentum.

Distribution and Habitat

Grevillea macleayana grows in low woodland or shrubland in near-coastal areas of New South Wales, ranging from near Jervis Bay to Moruya, and extending inland as far as Bundanoon.