Description
Grevillea pteridifolia generally grows as a large shrub to small tree with pinnatisect (deeply lobed) leaves that are 25 to 45 cm (10 to 17.5 in) long, and elongated bright orange inflorescences 8–22 cm (3–8.5 in) long which are terminal (at the ends of branches).
Plants from Queensland are non-lignotuberous shrubs to small trees with smooth bark and lighter inflorescences than other forms. A prostrate form which spreads up to 5 m (16 ft) across is found on exposed areas near Cooktown in north Queensland. Plants from Western Australia and the Northern Territory grow as a rough-barked lignotuberous shrub to small tree. A population of this last form from Kakadu National Park has all-silvery leaves.
The leaves were used as stuffing and as a herb when cooking emu by the Aborigines on Groote Eylandt, and used by early settlers to stuff pillows.
