Ashby's banksia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ashby's banksia |
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| Banksia ashbyi in Kings Park, Western Australia | |
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Banksia ashbyi, often called Ashby's banksia, is a unique shrub or small tree. It grows only in Western Australia, meaning it is endemic to that area. This plant has smooth, grey bark. Its leaves are deeply serrated and a bit hairy. It also produces bright orange flower spikes.
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What Does Ashby's Banksia Look Like?
Ashby's banksia is usually a shrub or a small tree. It can grow up to 8 meters (about 26 feet) tall. Sometimes, it has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after a fire.
Its bark is smooth and grey. Young stems are hairy at first, but they become smooth as they get older. The leaves are long and narrow, usually 10 to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 inches) long. They are also 2 to 4 centimeters (0.8 to 1.6 inches) wide. The edges of the leaves are deeply serrated, meaning they have sharp, triangular teeth.
The flowers are very bright orange. They grow in spikes that are 6 to 15 centimeters (2.4 to 6 inches) long. Each spike is about 6 to 8 centimeters (2.4 to 3.1 inches) wide. The individual flowers are quite long, measuring 2.6 to 3.4 centimeters (1 to 1.3 inches).
Ashby's banksia usually flowers from February to May or from July to December. After flowering, it produces many smooth, round or oval fruits. These fruits are called follicles. They are 8 to 15 millimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long and have short, soft hairs.
How Was Ashby's Banksia Named?
The scientific name Banksia ashbyi was first officially described in 1934. This was done by a botanist named Edmund Gilbert Baker. He published his description in a science journal called Journal of Botany, British and Foreign.
The name ashbyi was chosen to honor Edwin Ashby. He was one of the people who collected the first samples of this plant. These samples are known as the type specimens.
Different Types of Ashby's Banksia
In 2008, another botanist named Alex George identified two different types, or subspecies, of Ashby's banksia. These names are now accepted by the Australian Plant Census.
- Banksia ashbyi subspecies ashbyi grows as a tree up to 7 meters (23 feet) tall. It does not have a lignotuber. This means it is sensitive to fire and might not survive a bushfire.
- Banksia ashbyi subspecies boreoscaia grows as a sprawling shrub. It is usually no more than 2 meters (6.6 feet) high. This subspecies has a lignotuber, which helps it regrow after fires.
Where Does Ashby's Banksia Grow?
Ashby's banksia grows in sandy areas. It is found in heath and spinifex country. These are types of dry, shrubby land. You can find it along the coast of Western Australia. Its range stretches between the towns of Geraldton and Exmouth.
The subspecies ashbyi grows between Shark Bay and Coorow. It is also found in the Kennedy Range National Park. The subspecies boreoscaia is found further north. It grows between North West Cape and Quobba.
Is Ashby's Banksia Endangered?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Ashby's banksia as "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
How Does Climate Change Affect It?
Scientists have studied how climate change might affect this plant. They found that the area where Ashby's banksia grows is unlikely to shrink. In fact, it might even get bigger. This depends on how well the plant can move into new areas that become suitable for it.
Growing Ashby's Banksia from Seeds
If you want to grow Ashby's banksia from seeds, it's quite simple. The seeds do not need any special treatment. They usually take between 16 and 61 days to sprout.
