Cunningham, A. in Field, B. (ed.) (April 1825), On the botany of the Blue Mountains. Geographical Memoirs on New South Wales: 328, tab. [tax. nov.]

• Type: "Peaty bogs on the Blue Mountains and banks of Cox's River. Collected on Mr. Oxley's first expedition in 1817."

Loddiges, C., Loddiges, G. & Loddiges, W. (1826), Catalogue of plants in the collection of Conrad Loddiges and Sons, Nurseryman, at Hackney, near London. The Botanical Cabinet 12: No. 1153 [secondary reference]

common name: Acanthus-leaved Grevillea [n/a]

Mueller, F.J.H. von (1882), Systematic Census of Australian Plants: 68 [secondary reference]

Dixon, W.A. (1906), The Plants of New South Wales: 160 [secondary reference]

Sulman, F. (1913), A Popular Guide to the Wild Flowers of New South Wales 1: 12, 15, Plate V, 201 [secondary reference]

Domin, K. (1921), Beitrage zur Flora und Pflanzengeographie Australiens. Bibliotheca Botanica 22(89): 588 [secondary reference]

Beadle, N.C.W., Evans, O.D. & Carolin, R.C. (1962), Handbook of the Vascular Plants of the Sydney District and Blue Mountains: 189 [secondary reference]

Jacobs, S.W.L. & Pickard, J. (1981), Plants of New South Wales: 179 [secondary reference]

Makinson, R.O. in Harden, G.J. (ed.) (1991), Grevillea. Flora of New South Wales 2: 43 [secondary reference]

McGillivray, D.J & Makinson, R.O. (1993), Grevillea, Proteaceae: a taxonomic revision: 59-61, 402 [secondary reference]

• Lectotype: "(here designated): Blue Mountains, 3450 ft above the level of the Sea, A.Cunningham, 1817 (K–specimen at the left of the sheet)."

Olde, P.M. & Marriott, N.R. (1995), The Grevillea Book 2: 8 [secondary reference]

• Etymology: "Named for the resemblance of its foliage to that of the genus Acanthus (Greek akantha, a thorn, prickle) and Latin , a leaf, in reference to the shape and pungent lobes of the leaves."

Mabberley, D.J. (16 December 1999), Vitis x alexanderi Prince ex Jacques (Vitaceae), the first 'American Hybrid' grapes. Telopea 8(3): 379 [secondary reference]

doubtful taxonomic synonym: Embothrium acanthifolium F.Cels legitimate

Makinson, R.O. in Wilson, A.J.G. (ed.) (2000), Grevillea. Flora of Australia 17A: 56 APC [secondary reference]

• APC Dist.: NSW

Makinson, R.O. in Harden, G.J. (ed.) (2002), Grevillea. Flora of New South Wales Revised Edition 2: 45 [secondary reference]

Christenhusz, M.J.M., Fay, M.F. & Byng, J.W. (9 February 2018), GLOVAP Nomenclature Part 1. The Global Flora: a practical flora to vascular plant species of the world 4: 76 [basionym]

basionym of: Hakea acanthifolia (A.Cunn.) Christenh. & Byng legitimate

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