Grevillea striata

Beefwood

Proteaceae

Form and Size: A small to medium tree, 3-12m high, with a sparse crown.

Distribution: Widespread but scattered across most of inland Australia, extending to the coast in the Kimberleys, Gulf of Carpentaria and eastern Qld.

Leaves: Strap-like, narrow to narrow-oblong, sometimes curved, leathery, flat or with recurved margins, dull green, undersurface having 7-13 longitudinal veins, 10-35cm x 0.6-0.8cm.

Bark: Dark grey, hard, fissured.

Flowers: Cream or white, perfumed, crowded; borne in slender, cylindrical racemes 7-13cm long, arranged in much-branched, terminal panicles.

Flowering Period: August to March.

Fruit: Follicles, brown, leathery, beaked, l.5-2cm x 1-1.2cm; seeds winged.

Distinctive Features: Distinguished from G. parallela by the 7-13 leaf veins against 1-5 for G. parallela. This feature can be used in most instances, however there are known, but isolated, populations of both species with atypical veins.

Cultivation/Notes: Propagate from seed. The common name for this species came from the hard, dark red heartwood, which has a visual resemblance to beef. A hardy plant needing well drained soil and an open, sunny position.