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A shrub to 1 m high with a lignotuber.
It is naturally restricted to an area between the Kedumba Valley and Scotts Main Range (near Yerranderie, west of Lake Burragorang in NSW).
It grows in sandy loams in dry sclerophyll forest.
The leaves are narrow-elliptic to obovate, to 3 cm long and to 0.5 cm wide with entire margins which can be rolled down.
A grevillea inflorescence is technically a cluster of paired flowers, termed a conflorescence with the overall structure forming a raceme-like appearance. Grevillea species exhibit 3 main inflorescence structures:
1. A cylindrical to ovoid raceme (with flowers emerging around a 360° radius)
2. A single-sided raceme (with flowers produced on only one side, resembling a tooth-brush)
3. A condensed or clustered raceme (usually as long as it is wide, with species referred to as the spider-flowers)
Grevillea mostly produce the inflorescences at the terminals, beyond the foliage, which differs to the closely related Hakea.
This species is a spider-flower with mostly cream inflorescences appearing mainly in winter and spring, but can occur any time of year. Inflorescences have 12 to 20 flowers.
Individual flowers are composed of 1 carpel (female part) where the style and stigma protrude out; 4 stamens hidden away in the perianth; and the perianth (petals and sepals collectively) which connects to a pedicel. Proteaceae flowers do not have any discernible petals or sepals (having only one whorl) and so these are referred to as “tepals” of which there are 4.
The perianth is cream, the carpels brown-red and the pollen presenters on the tip of the carpels are green
The fruit is a follicle, hairy, faintly ridged, to 15 mm long, with 1 to 2 seeds released on maturity.
Not a species which is commonly grown and not much is known about its cultivation potential. It is considered very similar to forms of Grevillea mucronulata. This may mean it could be grown with some success on a free draining sandy soil.
Only grows to 1 m tall, so it would suit many gardens, if plants could be sourced.
In a garden situation, Grevilleas are good bird-attracting plants.
Grevilleas are propagated by three principal methods; seed, cuttings and grafting. To maintain desirable characteristics of a particular plant, vegetative propagation (e.g. cuttings or grafting) must be used. This also applies to propagation of named cultivars.
Synonyms: G. obtusifolia subsp. kedumbensis
This species was first collected by Alec Blombery in 1986, Grevillea kedumbensis was described by Don McGillivray as a subspecies of Grevillea obtusiflora in 1986. Peter Olde and Neil Marriott raised it to species rank in 1994.
Grevillea is a diverse genus of about 365 species with about 357 occurring in Australia. Some species occur in New Caledonia, Indonesia and New Guinea. NSW currently has about 85 species although with a lot of subspecies and some informal taxa recognised.
Grevillea flowers were a traditional favourite among First Nations Peoples for their sweet nectar. This could be shaken onto the hand to enjoy, or into a coolamon with a little water to make a sweet drink. They might be referred to as the original “bush lollies”
Most Grevillea species will regenerate from seed after fire but can produce coppicing shoots. This species has a lignotuber and so likely regenerates from buds in the tuber.
Grevillea – was named in honour of Charles Francis Greville (1749-1809), an 18th-century patron of botany and co-founder of the Royal Horticultural Society. He was also a British antiquarian, collector and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1774 to 1790.
kedumbensis – named for the area where it is found – the Kedumba Valley (located between Wentworth Falls and Lake Burragorang).
This species is not considered to be at risk of extinction in the wild. However, it has a very narrow geographic range. It is highly protected in its natural environment (mainly national parks estate).
Plants of South East New South Wales – Grevillea kedumbensis profile page
https://apps.lucidcentral.org/plants_se_nsw/text/entities/grevillea_kedumbensis.htm
NSW Flora Online (PlantNET) – Grevillea kedumbensis profile page https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Grevillea~kedumbensis