White oak

Description

Grevillea edelfeltii, commonly known as white oak, is a tree of the family Proteaceae and is native to the rainforests of north-east Queensland in Australia and to Papua New Guinea. In its native rainforest habitat, Grevillea edelfeltii can grow as a tree to 30 m (100 ft) high. Its hard scaly bark is grey. Both adult and juvenile leaves are 6–30 cm (5.2–12 in) long; the juvenile leaves are pinnatifid, that is, divided into five to nine lanceolate (spear-shaped) lobes on each side of the leaf, while the adult leaves are a simple spear-shape (lanceolate) and 1–6 or rarely 10 cm (0.4–4 in) wide. They are a shiny smooth green above with a conspicuous midvein, and covered in rust-coloured fur below. The flowerheads appear in spring and summer (August to December) and are greenish in bud and white on maturity. Grevillea edelfeltii was first formally described in 1885 by Ferdinand von Mueller in his book Descriptive Notes on Papuan plants, from material collected on the Astrolabe Range in Papua New Guinea. The Australian Plant Census considers Grevillea edelfeltii F.Muell. to be a nomen nudum and gives the name of this taxon as Grevillea baileyana, first collected in 1886 from the vicinity of the Johnstone River in north Queensland, and given the binomial name Kermadecia pinnatifida by Queensland botanist Frederick Manson Bailey. However, when it was reclassified within the genus Grevillea, the new scientific name was found to be an illegitimate name as the combination Grevillea pinnatifida had been published for a different plant in 1843. Instead, botanist Donald McGillivray gave it the new name Grevillea baileyana in 1986, honouring Bailey and his son John Frederick Bailey. The fragrant white flowerheads and green foliage make this species an attractive garden plant. It prefers a compost-rich, acidic soil with good drainage. It is long-lived in cultivation and usually grows no higher than 8 to 10 metres (25–35 ft). Although noted for prolific flowering in tropical regions, plants may take many years to produce flowers in temperate areas. It is generally propagated by seed, although some success has been had with cuttings. The white or pinkish grained wood can be used in wood turning or cabinet making.