Grevillea pteridifolia

Knight

Golden Grevillea, Green-leaved Grevillea

Proteaceae Edible: Flower nectar, Leaves - flavouring, Seeds 670 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Grevillea pteridifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to northern Australia. It is also known by many common names, including golden grevillea, silky grevillea, fern-leaved grevillea, golden parrot tree, golden tree, manbulu, yawuny and tjummula. It is a shrub or tree usually with pinnatisect leaves, and bright orange-yellow or reddish flowers.

Description

A slender tree. It grows 5-8 m high. It spreads 3-7 m wide. The leaves are silvery. The whole leaf is 15-43 cm long and it is divided into narrow lobes. These can be 7-30 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. They are fine. The flowers are bright orange or red. The style sticks out. They are 1.5-3 cm long and are arranged along a long stalk 10-20 cm long. These are produced near the ends of branches. The fruit is a somewhat woody follicle. It is 1.5-2 cm long and 1 cm wide. They occur in dense clusters and contain 2 brown seeds.

Edible Uses

The nectar is sucked from the flowers or shaken into water and drunk. The leaves are used as flavouring when cooking emus.

Traditional Uses

The nectar is sucked from the flowers or shaken into water and drunk. The leaves have also been used to add flavouring when cooking emus.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. Plants can grow on a wide range of soils. It can stand occasionally water-logging. It grows naturally in open forests often on sandy soils. It is damaged by frost. It cannot stand wet winters. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Where It Grows

Australia, East Africa, Indochina, Kenya, SE Asia, Southern Africa, Thailand, USA, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed or from tip cuttings. The seed coat needs to be peeled off.

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak in water for 24 hours prior to sowing. Germination usually takes 25 - 30 days. Seedlings are ready for planting when they are 10 - 15 cm tall and bearing 7 - 8 leaves. Suckers, planted out at any time that the soil is moist enough.

Other Uses

The dried foliage has been used as an elastic stuffing for mattresses. The wood is a source of fuel wood and poles. The plant is an effective wind-break. Plants are suitable for planting on wasteland soils with a texture varying from pulverized lateritic soil to sandy loam, including loose soils on dumps of coal and bauxite mines, where it regenerates spontaneously.

Production

Plants are fast growing. They are short lived. They may only live 6-8 years.

Other Information

The nectar is sucked especially by children.

Notes

There are 250 Grevillea species. It is a declared noxious weed in the USA.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Seed wings	6.2	1728	413	23.5	—	—	67.8	30
Seed	7.5	1246	298	21.7	—	—	4.5	3.6
Flower	70.5	602	144	1.9	—	30	67.8	30

Synonyms

Grevillea chrysodendron R.Br.Grevillea mitchellii W.J. Hooker

Also Known As

Abergubber, Andadjek, Fern-leaved Grevillea, Golden Parrot Tree, Golden Toothbrush Grevillea, Kimberley Christmas Tree, Manbarnku, Manbulu, Silky Grevillea, Tjummula, Watbarr, Wigun, Yawuny, Yinungkwurra

References (36)

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Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 157

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