Nuytsia 7(2): 125-131 
125 
Taxonomy of the Grevillea brachystylis species complex (Proteaceae) 
G J. Keighery 
Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australian 
Wildlife Research Centre, P.O. Box 51, Wanneroo, Western Australia 6065 
Abstract 
Keighery, GJ. Taxonomy of the Grevillea brachystylis species complex (Proteaceae). Nuytsia 7(2): 125-131 (1990). 
Material formerly included in Grevillea brachystylis is shown to comprise two distinct species, one undescribed. 
Grevillea bronwenae is described, and illustrated. This new species is confined to the northern margin of the Blackwood 
Plateau, whereas Grevillea brachystylis contains two distinct subspecies occurring on the Swan and Scott coastal plains. 
Introduction 
The genus Grevillea has recently been studied by McGillivray, who has published a list of new 
taxa (McGillivray 1986). 
McGillivray has a relatively broad species concept within this large genus and he has left a 
series of species complexes as single units. As an example, the populations studied in this paper 
were considered to form a single variable species (Marriott 1986) and specimens at PERTH are 
annotated as such by McGillivray. 
Grevillea brachystylis is confined to the Swan and Scott coastal plains and the Blackwood 
Plateau of south-western Australia. Horticulturalists and field botanists alike have recognized the 
existence of distinct forms within the species. This paper presents the results of field and herbarium 
studies on the conservation status and variability of Grevillea brachystylis that indicate that the 
variation is discontinuous and that the Blackwood Plateau populations comprise a distinct species. 
Methods 
During the flowering season of 1986/87 areas of remnant bushland, state forest and conservation 
reserves covering the natural range of Grevillea brachystylis were surveyed for the occurrence of 
this species. Observations were made on the habit, habitat, vegetative and floral morphology of 
these populations. Comparisons are made on the basis of fresh material. 
