Indicative distribution
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas.
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The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Grevillea kennedyana
Profile last updated:
01 Nov 2022
Description
Greyish, sprawling shrub to about 1.5 m high, with somewhat tangled, downy branches. Few plants possess more than six thick stems. The leaves are rigid and sharply pointed, 0.7-3.3 cm long, about 1-1.5 mm wide, clustered, the margins rolled inwards. Flowers in loose clusters of 8-20, each 2.5-3.5 cm long, silky red, borne on long slender stalks in small groups at the ends of the branchlets. The fruit is a small capsule opening in two valves.
Distribution
Rare in the far north-west corner of NSW, from a few locations on stony mesa slopes. It appears to be confined to only one or two mesas and present there in very localised groups. Sites are also located in adjacent far south-western Qld. Known in total from six separate geographic locations, with the total number of individuals estimated at 13 000+ plants, most of which occur in Sturt NP. The four NSW sites are located in the Grey Range on the Olive Downs escarpment, McDonalds Peak, Mount Wood Hills and Onepah Station. The two Qld sites are located on Naryilco Station in the Bygrave Range.
Habitat and ecology
- Grows in rocky sites on stony mesa slopes, steep jump-ups and dry rocky watercourses. Absent from the upper, less stony slopes and the gently undulating plains which fringe the ranges. Denser concentrations occur on lower slopes where more rocks and stones have collected and water retention is comparatively good.
- Associated with low sparse arid shrublands dominated by Eremophila freelingii, Acacia tetragonophylla and Scaevola spinescens, with Grevillea kennedyana typically in the tallest stratum. Canopy species include Acacia aneura, A. cambagei and Atalaya hemiglauca, with occasional Casuarina pauper up to 7m high.
- Flowering appears to be induced by cool season rainfall and has been observed throughout winter and spring. Preliminary observations suggest that substantial flowering episodes occur 2 to 4 months after a significant rainfall event. Flowering is irregular in dry seasons.
- Plants occasionally arise from seed but mostly regenerate from lignotuber and sucker, either naturally or in response to fire. Is capable of recruitment via rhizomes and it is likely that many apparent individuals are clones. The species also has the ability to resprout from adventitious buds at the base of stems. Establishment of seedlings has not been observed in the wild.
- Germination and growth may be reliant on exceptional rainfall events in the appropriate season or above-average rainfall over successive years.
- The longevity of plants is not known. There is very little evidence of plant senescence. The ecology of Grevillea kennedyana involves episodes of drought and fire. The pollinators are unknown, but flower size, red colour and long styles suggest that it is likely to be bird-pollinated.
- A wildfire partially burnt the Naryilco population in 1975 and when observed in 1992 these plants had resprouted. Fire is not required to trigger the release of seed but may be implicated in the breaking of seed dormancy.
- Each location comprises several populations or relatively discrete clumps of plants. The abundance of individuals varies considerably within populations, from scattered shrubs spaced 100 to 200 metres apart, up to concentrations of 3 plants per square metre. A distinctive feature is the close grouping of plants, with groups consisting of 4 to 8 close-growing plants with intertwining braches.
Regional distribution and habitat
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Threats
- Total browsing and grazing pressure (grazing has been implicated in the lack of observed seedling recruitment).
- Subtle habitat degradation (through changes to prehistoric fire regimes and browsing by herbivores).
- Insufficient understanding of species ecology.
- Insufficient understanding of distribution.
Recovery strategies
A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.
Activities to assist this species
- Exclosures at selected populations to monitor the impacts of grazing.
- No further loss of extant populations.
Information sources
- Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
- Cunningham, G.M., Mulham, W.E., Milthorpe, P.L. and Leigh, J.H. (1992) Plants of Western New South Wales. (Inkata Press, Sydney)
- Duncan, A. (1992) Grevillea kennedyana. Draft Flora Recovery Plan: Research Phase and Management Phase, Australian National Parka and Wildlife Service: Canberra.
- Duncan, A. (1992) Aspects of the ecology of the rare Grevillea kennedyana (Proteaceae) in north-western New South Wales. Cunninghamia 2(4): 533-539.
- Enke, R. and Mills, G. (1998) Grevillea kennedyana (Flame Spider-Flower). Distribution and Abundance Survey NPWS, sydney.
- Jessop, J.P. (1981) Flora of Central Australia. (Australian Systematic Botany Society, Sydney)
- Makinson, R.O. (2000) Grevillea. In Harden, G.J., Hardin, D.W. and Godden, D.C. (eds) Proteaceae of New South Wales. University of New South Wales Press, Sydney.
- McGillivray, D.J. (1993) Grevillea. Proteaceae. Melbourne University Press, Melbourne.
- Mueller, F.J.H. von (1888) Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants. Transactions of the Philosophical Society of Victoria 24: 172.
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2000) Flame Spider-flower (Grevillea kennedyana) Recovery Plan. NSW NPWS, Hurstville NSW.
- Olde, P. and Marriot, N. (1995) The Grevillea Book. Volume 2. Kangaroo Press, Sydney.
- Pressey, R.L., Cohn, J.S. and Porter, J.L. (1990) Vascular plants with restricted distributions in the Western Division of New South Wales. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 112: 213-227
- Wrigley, J.W. and Fagg, M. (1989) Banksias, Waratahs and Grevilleas and all other plants in the Australian Proteaceae family. Angus and Roberston, Sydney.
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