Banksia archaeocarpa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Banksia archaeocarpaTemporal range: Middle Eocene
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B. archaeocarpa
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| Banksia archaeocarpa McNamara & Scott
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Banksia archaeocarpa was an ancient type of Banksia plant. It is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists on Earth. Scientists only know about it from a special fossil "cone" that was found in Western Australia. This fossil cone is like a snapshot from a very long time ago, showing us what this plant looked like.
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Discovering an Ancient Banksia
The only part of Banksia archaeocarpa ever found is a fossil cone. This cone was discovered in rocks called the Merlinleigh Sandstone. These rocks are found in the Kennedy Range National Park in Western Australia. The fossil is from the Middle Eocene period. This was about 40 to 50 million years ago!
In 1983, a scientist named Ken McNamara described this amazing fossil. He noticed that the fossil cone looked a lot like a modern Banksia plant. It was very similar to the Candlestick Banksia (B. attenuata). Just like modern banksias, its flowers were arranged in a spiral pattern on the cone.
What is a Fossil Cone?
A fossil cone is not a real cone anymore. It is a stone copy of a cone. Over millions of years, the original plant material slowly decayed. Minerals then filled in the spaces, creating a perfect stone mold. This process helps us learn about plants that lived long, long ago.
Scientists also found some fossil leaves at the same site. These leaves looked like those from the Feather-leaved Banksia (Banksia brownii). However, it is not clear if these leaves came from the same Banksia archaeocarpa plant.
Where Did This Ancient Banksia Live?
Today, the Kennedy Range is far north of where most banksia plants grow. Most banksias prefer cooler, wetter areas. The only Banksia species found in the Kennedy Range now is Ashby's Banksia (B. ashbyi). This plant is the northernmost type of banksia in Western Australia.
A cast, or copy, of the Banksia archaeocarpa fossil cone is on display. You can see it at the Western Australian Museum. It helps us imagine what this ancient plant looked like.
Other Ancient Banksia Finds
Another fossil banksia cone has also been found. It is similar to Banksia archaeocarpa and is named Banksia longicarpa. This fossil was found near Marree in northern South Australia. It dates back to the Miocene period, which was more recently than the Eocene. Like the Kennedy Range, this area is also far from where most modern banksias grow. These fossil finds show that banksias once lived in different places than they do today.
