Grevillea lanigera, commonly known as Woolly Grevillea, is a small shrub

Shrub

A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...

  which is endemic

Endemic (ecology)

Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...

 to Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

 and New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

 in Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

.

Description

The species shows considerable variation in its habit and other characteristics. It may be prostrate or erect, the latter forms growing from 0.3 to 1.5 metres in height. The red flowers may occur throughout the year, but are most prolific in winter and spring. It has hairy leaves and branchlets, giving rise to the specific epithet lanigera derived from the Latin

Latin

Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...

 words lana (wool) and ger (to bear or carry).

Distribution

Grevillea lanigera occurs in an area that extends from Wilsons Promontory

Wilsons Promontory

Wilsons Promontory is a peninsula that forms the southernmost part of the Australian mainland and is located at . South Point at is the southernmost tip of Wilsons Promontory and hence of mainland Australia...

 in Australia

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

 northwards to the south coast of New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

 and nearby mountain ranges.

Cultivars and forms

There are a number of named cultivars and forms including the following:

• G. lanigera 'Blush'
• G. lanigera 'Clearview John' -form from Lake Glenmaggie
• G. lanigera 'Compacta'
• G. lanigera coastal form
• G. lanigera 'Coastal Gem'
• G. lanigera fine-leaved form
• G. lanigera 'Lutea'
• G. lanigera 'Mount Tamboritha' - a prostrate form
• G. lanigera 'Prostrate'
• G. lanigera Snowy River
  Snowy River
  The Snowy River is a major river in south-eastern Australia. It originates on the slopes of Mount Kosciuszko, Australia's highest mainland peak, draining the eastern slopes of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, before flowing through the Snowy River National Park in Victoria and emptying into...
  
   form
• G. lanigera Victor Harbor form

The species is known to hybridise with Grevillea alpina

Grevillea alpina

The Australian flowering shrub Grevillea alpina has several common names, including mountain grevillea, alpine grevillea, and cat's claws. It is not limited to alpine environments, and in fact is less common at high elevation than low...

, Grevillea arenaria

Grevillea arenaria

Grevillea arenaria is a shrub which is endemic to the east of New South Wales in Australia. It has an erect to spreading habit and grows to between 1 and 3 metres in height. Its leaves are 1.5 to 7 cm long and 3 to 15 mm in width. The flowers, which occur in groups of 2 to 10, are pink, red or...

, Grevillea floribunda, Grevillea jephcottii

Grevillea jephcottii

Grevillea jephcottii is a shrub species that is endemic to north-eastern Victoria, in Australia. Common names include Pine Mountain Grevillea, Green Grevillea and Jephcotts Grevillea. It has an erect habit, growing to between 1 and 3 metres high...

, Grevillea polybractea

Grevillea polybractea

Grevillea polybractea, commonly known as Crimson Grevillea, is a shrub species in the family Proteaceae. It is native to the states of New South Wales and Victoria in Australia....

and Grevillea rosmarinifolia

Grevillea rosmarinifolia

Grevillea rosmarinifolia is a plant of the family Proteaceae.-Description:Grevillea rosmarinifolia usually occurs as a small to medium, shrub to 0.3–2 meters high....

. Named hybrids include:

• G. 'Clearview Robin' - Snowy River form x Victor Harbour form
• G. 'Crosbie Morrison' - G. lanigera x G. lavandulacea
• G. 'Edna Walling Softly Softly' - G.alpina x G. lanigera 'Blush'
• G. 'Granya Glory' - G. lanigera x G. polybractea
• G. 'Pinkie' - seedling from G. lanigera