Grevillea rubiginosa

Grevillea rubiginosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to south-eastern New Caledonia.

Grevillea rubiginosa is an open tree or shrub which can grow up to 10 metres (33 ft) tall in sheltered areas and 4 metres (13 ft) in open habitats. Its leaves are 4.5–13.5 centimetres (1.8–5.3 in) long and 0.5–5.7 centimetres (0.20–2.24 in) wide with a red indumentum on the underside. The conflorescence is much-branched and the floral rachis has distinctive reddish hairs. The perianth is oblong-ovoid in shape, 10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 in) long, 2–3 millimetres (0.079–0.118 in) wide and hairy on the external surface. The pistil is 26.5–42.5 millimetres (1.04–1.67 in) long and glabrous. Both the perianth and style are creamy-white. The fruit is a follicle 15–20 millimetres (0.59–0.79 in) long and 12–15 millimetres (0.47–0.59 in) wide that is smooth and in an oblique position on the pedicel. Flowering occurs between May and January, usually flowering later in higher altitudes.^[1][2]

This species was formerly regarded as a subspecies of Grevillea exul.^[1][3] The specific epithet is derived from the Latin rubiginosis, meaning "rusty red" in reference to the red or brown hairs on the floral rachis.^[2]

G. rubiginosa is endemic to the southern half of the island of New Caledonia, where it receives 900-3000mm of annual rainfall. It grows from 0 to 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above sea level in a variety of soil types and habitats including gravelly loam in scrub or open forest, schist and skeletal soil on rocky ridges and slopes and alluvial sand along watercourses such as streams.^[2]