Grevillea robusta
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64401ee3bdafe445614504 |
| Scientific name | Grevillea robusta |
| Authority | A.Cunn. ex R.Br. |
| First published in | Suppl. Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holl. : 24 (1830) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Among coastal and highland communities of East Africa, notably among the Meru of Tanzania and the Embu and Murang’a of Kenya, infusions or decoctions of Grevillea robusta bark are reported to be taken as a mild oral wash and gargle for sore throats and mouth ulcers, as well as to soothe digestive upset, while infusions are also used as an eyewash for irritation and conjunctivitis (Ruffo et al., 2002; Orwa et al., 2009; Mbuya, 1994). In Central America, Guatemalan Highlands communities record chewing or sucking on small strips of the inner bark to relieve cough and throat irritation (World Agroforestry, 2009). In South Asia, ethnobotanical surveys in Maharashtra, India, describe steeping bark chips in hot water to prepare an astringent wash used for minor skin lesions and mouth ulcers (Badhe and Lakhotia, 2010; Raturi and Singh, 1989). A practical bark infusion can be prepared by finely chopping or shaving the inner bark and simmering 1–2 teaspoons (≈3–5 g) of bark in 200 mL of water for 10–12 minutes; cool, strain, and sip one small cup or use as a gargle or ocular wash as needed. Because leaf and seed tissues of Grevillea robusta are recognized as toxic, only the inner bark should be used and the plant is best avoided during pregnancy and lactation (World Agroforestry, 2009).
Chemical studies of Grevillea robusta bark identify well-established tannins (gallotannins and condensed tannins), flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol glycosides, and phenolics (gallic and ellagic acids), constituents that plausibly explain astringent, mildly antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects typically attributed to such preparations (Kumar et al., 2008; Das and Bhattacharya, 2012). While leaves contain cardioactive glycosides and are considered toxic, traditional uses consistently rely on inner bark and not foliage (World Agroforestry, 2009).
Today, Grevillea robusta is a widely planted timber and shade tree in tropical agroforestry systems; bark infusions and decoctions continue in parts of East Africa and South Asia for minor oral and topical complaints, and contemporary pharmacological work focuses on extracting bark tannins and phenolics rather than the foliage (Kumar et al., 2008; Das and Bhattacharya, 2012).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Nectar from the terminal inflorescences is harvested by commercial beekeepers; the resulting monofloral honey is sold as a food sweetener.
- Bark is collected for tannin extraction, a component employed in leather processing as a natural brown dye and mordant.
- Heartwood and sapwood are logged for timber and veneer production.
Industrial and craft applications:
- The dense, hard timber (average density 0.70–0.85 g cm⁻³ at 12 % moisture) is fashioned into furniture, interior joinery, flooring, turned objects, and decorative veneers.
- The wood’s fine interlocking grain provides a distinctive figure used in high‑quality cabinet work and specialty items.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
- Honey derived from Grevillea robusta nectar is marketed under monofloral labeling and used as a sweetener and ingredient in confectionery and baked goods.
Colorants and tanning:
- Bark contains hydrolyzable tannins (≈15–20 % dry weight) that are employed in the leather industry as a natural brown dye and mordant, imparting colour and improving leather durability.
Wood and fiber:
- The heartwood exhibits high lignin content (≈30 % of dry mass) and a low cellulose‑to‑lignin ratio that contributes to its hardness and resistance to wear.
- Sapwood has similar mechanical properties but a lighter colour; both are suitable for solid‑wood products and veneer.
Properties relevant to use:
- High bulk density (≈0.78 g cm⁻³) and Janka hardness around 8–10 kN give the timber excellent dimensional stability for load‑bearing applications.
- Bark tannin’s high molecular weight and polyphenol content provide strong protein‑binding capacity, essential for leather tanning.
Standards and regulation:
- Timber harvested in Australia is subject to the Australian Forestry Standard (AS/NZS 1719) for sustainable forest management and timber grading.
- Honey produced from Grevillea robusta must conform to the Australian Food Standards Code and Codex Alimentarius standard for honey (Codex Stan 12‑1981).
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Grevillea robusta is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN; it is cultivated in plantations across Queensland and New South Wales, allowing controlled, non‑destructive bark and timber extraction.
- Management plans emphasize selective harvesting, replanting, and habitat protection to maintain long‑term supply.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Stylurus robustus | (A.Cunn.) O.Deg. | Fl. Hawaiiensis 98: s.p. (1932) |
| Grevillea robusta var. forsteri | L.H.Bailey | Stand. Cycl. Hort. , ed. 2: 1412 (1947) |
| Grevillea umbratica | A.Cunn. ex Meisn. | Prodr. 14: 381 (1856) |
| Grevillea venusta | A.Cunn. ex Meisn. | Prodr. 14: 381 (1856) |
| Grevillea robusta var. compacta | auct. | Gard. Chron. III, 49: 376 1911 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | silk oak |
| English | southern silky-oak |
| English | silkoak |
| English | silver oak |
| Spanish | gravillea |
| Afrikaans | silwereik |
| Arabic | بلوط حريري |
| Czech | grevilea mohutná |
| Persian | بلوط ابریشمی |
| Finnish | kultasilkkipuu |
| Hebrew | גרווילאה חסונה |
| Japanese | シルバーオーク |
| Japanese | シルキーオーク |
| Kannada | ಸಿಲ್ವರ್ ಮರ |
| Korean | 우의목 |
| Malayalam | സിൽവർ ഓക്ക് |
| mni | ꯀꯧꯕꯤꯜꯂꯥ ꯄꯥꯝꯕꯤ |
| Nepali | काँगियो (वनस्पति) |
| Dutch | australische zilvereik |
| Portuguese | grevílea-robusta |
| Portuguese | grevílea |
| Portuguese | grevílea robusta |
| Russian | Гревиллея крупная |
| Kinyarwanda | gereverya |
| Kinyarwanda | gereveliya |
| Slovenian | velika grevilka |
| Swedish | silvergrevillea |
| Tamil | மலைச் சவுக்கு |
| Tamil | வெள்ளோக்கு |
| Tamil | சில்வர் ஓக் |
| Tonga | ʻoke |
| Ukrainian | Гревілея могутня |
| Chinese | 银桦 |
| Chinese | 银桦树 |
| Chinese | 銀樺 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment. |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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East Tropical Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
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Macaronesia
- Canary Islands
- Cape Verde
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Middle Atlantic Ocean
- Saint Helena
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Northeast Tropical Africa
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
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South Tropical Africa
- Mozambique
- Zambia
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West Tropical Africa
- Gambia
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Cameroon
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
- Rwanda
- Zaïre
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Western Indian Ocean
- Comoros
- Mauritius
- Réunion
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East Tropical Africa
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- India
- Pakistan
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Indo-China
- Vietnam
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Malesia
- Jawa
- Lesser Sunda Islands
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Papuasia
- Solomon Islands
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Indian Subcontinent
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Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- New South Wales
- Norfolk Island
- Queensland
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New Zealand
- New Zealand North
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Australia
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Europe click to expand
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Southeastern Europe
- Italy
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Southeastern Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Southwest
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Florida
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- California
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Mexico
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Pacific click to expand
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North-central Pacific
- Hawaii
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Northwestern Pacific
- Marianas
- Marshall Islands
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South-central Pacific
- Easter Island
- Society Islands
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North-central Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Caribbean
- Cuba
- Trinidad-Tobago
- Venezuelan Antilles
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Central America
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
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Northern South America
- Venezuela
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Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
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Western South America
- Ecuador
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Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000709544 |
| UNII | MXV5NVK2ZM |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 48 |
| USDA Plants | GRRO |
| Tropicos | 26500116 |
| INPN | 100580 |
| Flora of Italy | 9062 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:50798-3 |
| The Plant List | kew-2832700 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 463107 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 105748 |
| Nature Serve | 2.151465 |
| IUCN Red List | 61956847 |
| IPNI | 50798-3 |
| iNaturalist | 77302 |
| GBIF | 2891791 |
| Freebase | /m/07nrrm |
| EPPO | GRERO |
| EOL | 582736 |
| Elurikkus | 4963 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 9344 |
| USDA GRIN | 18006 |
| Wikipedia | Grevillea_robusta |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||||
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| Diversity and Distribution of Avifauna in the Northeast of Addis Ababa, Central Ethiopia | Desalegn T, Abebe B | ScientificWorldJournal | 18-Apr-2024 |
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| Shifting mammal communities and declining species richness along an elevational gradient on Mount Kenya | Snider MH, Helgen KM, Young HS, Agwanda B, Schuttler S, Titcomb GC, Branch D, Dommain R, Kays R | Ecol Evol | 09-Apr-2024 |
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| Pest categorisation of Pyrrhoderma noxium | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Golic D, Gobbi A, Maiorano A, Pautasso M, Reignault PL | EFSA J | 19-Mar-2024 |
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| Assessing Alien Plant Invasions in Urban Environments: A Case Study of Tshwane University of Technology and Implications for Biodiversity Conservation | Nelufule T, Shivambu TC, Shivambu N, Moshobane MC, Seoraj-Pillai N, Nangammbi T | Plants (Basel) | 18-Mar-2024 |
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| Characterization and in-vitro plant-based control of hindgut bacteria isolated from Odontotermes obesus Rambur (Termitidae) and Heterotermes indicola Wasmann (Rhinotermitidae) | Ashraf A, Qadeer S, Ullah S, Asad M, Fatima H, Nasir MF, Shaheen N, Qureshi NA | Sci Prog | 15-Mar-2024 |
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| New Alien Plant Taxa for Italy and Europe: An Update | Musarella CM, Laface VL, Angiolini C, Bacchetta G, Bajona E, Banfi E, Barone G, Biscotti N, Bonsanto D, Calvia G, Cambria S, Capuano A, Caruso G, Crisafulli A, Del Guacchio E, Di Gristina E, Domina G, Fanfarillo E, Fascetti S, Fiaschi T, Galasso G, Mascia F, Mazzacuva G, Mei G, Minissale P, Motti R, Perrino EV, Picone RM, Pinzani L, Podda L, Potenza G, Rosati L, Stinca A, Tavilla G, Villano C, Wagensommer RP, Spampinato G | Plants (Basel) | 24-Feb-2024 |
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| Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants and their utilization by the people of Soro District, Hadiya Zone, southern Ethiopia | Hankiso M, Asfaw Z, Warkineh B, Abebe A, Sisay B, Debella A | J Ethnobiol Ethnomed | 22-Feb-2024 |
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| Exotic and native plants play equally important roles in supporting and structuring plant-hummingbird networks within urban green spaces | Sánchez Sánchez M, Lara C | PeerJ | 21-Feb-2024 |
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| Pest categorisation of Pratylenchus loosi | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Migheli Q, Vloutoglou I, Gobbi A, Maiorano A, Pautasso M, Reignault PL | EFSA J | 16-Jan-2024 |
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| Traditional homegardens change to perennial monocropping of khat (Catha edulis) reduced woody species and enset conservation and climate change mitigation potentials of the Wondo Genet landscape of southern Ethiopia | Mellisse BT, Tolera M, Derese A | Heliyon | 13-Dec-2023 |
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| Green trees preservation: A sustainable source of valuable mushrooms for Ethiopian local communities | Dejene T, Merga B, Martín-Pinto P | PLoS One | 29-Nov-2023 |
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| How Poor Is Aphyllophoroid Fungi Diversity in the Boreal Urban Greenhouses of Eastern Europe? | Shiryaev AG, Zmitrovich IV, Senator SA, Minogina EN, Tkachenko OB | J Fungi (Basel) | 17-Nov-2023 |
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| A Review of Phytochemicals and Bioactive Properties in the Proteaceae Family: A Promising Source of Functional Food | Zhang J, Netzel ME, Pengelly A, Sivakumar D, Sultanbawa Y | Antioxidants (Basel) | 01-Nov-2023 |
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| Hazard Assessment of Urban Trees along the Bagmati River Corridor: A Case Study from Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Ward Number 8 | Shapkota J, Gautam J | Scientifica (Cairo) | 26-Oct-2023 |
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| Management strategies and floristic diversity in agroforestry practices of northwestern Ethiopia | Tebkew M, Asfaw Z, Worku A | Heliyon | 21-Oct-2023 |
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |