Kingdom Plantae Family Proteaceae Scientific name Grevillea buxifolia Rank Species | Order Proteales Genus Grevillea Higher classification Spider flower | |
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Similar Spider flower, Grevillea sericea, Grevillea linearifolia, Grevillea speciosa, Proteas | ||
Grevillea buxifolia, commonly known as the grey spider flower, is a species of the family Proteaceae. It grows in coastal New South Wales, Australia. First described in 1793 by James Edward Smith, he gave the new species the name Embothrium buxifolium. It is widely cultivated and contains a number of subspecies and cultivars. These vary most in the presentation of the attractive flower.
The species forms a short shrub, three or four feet high. The numerous branches are covered in a reddish or brown hair and many leaves. Flowers sit at the termination of these: yellowish and white, pendulous star-shaped petals, set to appear in November.
The flowers of the plant sit alone, erect in umbels, on stalks covered in reddish brown hairs. The corolla is likewise clothed and is partly fused to form a cavity. This interior is white and the petals are otherwise very pale to yellow; this spills above the hairy parts. The single elliptic leaves are veiny, with a very rough dark green upper; margins entire and roll to the downy underside. These are arranged, almost directly to the stem, alternate and numerous up the branches. They end in a little sharp point.
