Grevillea willisii
R.V.Sm. & McGill Omeo GrevilleaSpreading to erect shrub, 1–4.5 m high, to 3 m wide. Leaves 2.5–13.5 cm long, 2–6.5 cm wide, 5–11(–19)-partite, primary lobes simple or 3–5-fid, rarely some tertiary division on lower lobes; ultimate lobes oblong to narrowly triangular, 0.5–2.5 cm long, 3–17 mm wide; lower surface densely woolly-tomentose; margin shortly recurved. Conflorescences terminal, erect, simple, secund, (1–)3–8.5 cm long; rachis woolly-tomentose; perianth cream, outer surface tomentose, inner surface glabrous; pistil 11–18 mm long, ovary stipitate, subsericeous to subvillous, style cream, glabrous, pollen presenter oblique. Fruits softly tomentose with purplish-brown markings. Flowers Sep.–Jan.
GipP, HNF, VAlp. Restricted to the catchments of the Mitta Mitta River and Nariel Creek where growing in rocky situations near streams, on granite.
There are 2 forms. The shorter-leaved form has leaves 2.5–6.5 cm long with 5–11 primary lobes, and conflorescences 3–5.5 cm long; it occurs on the catchment of the Mitta Mitta River and its tributaries in the Omeo area. The longer-leaved form, with leaves 7–14 cm long with 9–19 primary lobes, and conflorescences 8–9 cm long is known from only 2 collections near Corryong (Nariel Creek and Wheelers Creek).
The species is very closely related to Grevillea pachylostyla, which is of smaller habit, has smaller leaves, a less secund (or cylindric) and fewer-flowered conflorescence, and more robust styles which redden after anthesis. Populations morphologically intermediate between the 2 taxa are known from Mt Stradbroke and from east of Gelantipy.
Makinson, R.O. (1996). Grevillea. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 845–870. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
