Grevillea maherae

Grevillea maherae is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is a densely-branched shrub with divided leaves with sharply pointed lobes, and clusters of pinkish red to maroon flowers with a red style.

Description

Grevillea maherae is a low, spreading or weakly erect shrub that typically gros to a height of and has many stems. The leaves are long and wide in outline, with 9 to 13 sharply-pointed, more or less triangular teeth long and wide on the edges. The flowers are arranged on one side of a rachis mostly long and are pinkish red to maroon, the pistil long. Flowering occurs from December to March, and the fruit is a woolly-hairy follicle long.

Taxonomy

Grevillea maherae was first formally described in 2000 by Robert Makinson and Matthew Barrett in the Flora of Australia from specimens collected by Barrett on Mount Elizabeth Homestead in 1998. The specific epithet honours Robyn Maher, who discovered the plant.

Distribution and habitat

This grevillea is only known from Mount Elizabeth Station where it grows in grassy woodland.

Conservation status

Grevillea maherae is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.