SPECIES: Grevillea caleyi — Caley's Grevillea
CLASSIFICATION: Critically endangered
In the northern suburbs of Sydney in NSW grows a small number of critically endangered native Grevillea. Caley's Grevillea - named after George Caley, an early explorer to the Blue Mountains that first collected the plant in 1805.
Caley's Grevillea grows up to 4m in height and width. Its separated green leaves are covered in soft hairs and it grows an intricate maroon flower that oddly resembles a toothbrush. Of all the things. This native species of Grevillea has recently been upgraded to critically endangered and is threatened by habitat loss, invasive weeds, fire and human activity.
Photo: Ben Fallowfield