Banksia ashbyi subsp. ashbyi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Banksia ashbyi subsp. ashbyi |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Banksia |
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B. a. subsp. ashbyi
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| Banksia ashbyi subsp. ashbyi |
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Banksia ashbyi subsp. ashbyi is a special type of plant, a subspecies of Ashby's banksia. It's a tree-like plant that doesn't have a special woody base called a lignotuber. You can find it growing between Geraldton and Shark Bay, and also in the Kennedy Ranges in Western Australia.
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What is Banksia ashbyi subsp. ashbyi?
This plant is a type of Banksia ashbyi that grows like a tree. It can reach up to seven meters (about 23 feet) tall. Unlike some other plants, it does not have a lignotuber. A lignotuber is a woody swelling at the base of the plant. It helps plants regrow after a fire.
How is it different from other Banksias?
Banksia ashbyi subsp. ashbyi is different from its close relative, B. ashbyi subsp. boreoscaia. The boreoscaia subspecies is a smaller shrub, usually only two meters (about 6.5 feet) tall. It also has a lignotuber, which helps it survive fires.
Another way to tell them apart is by their leaves. Banksia ashbyi subsp. ashbyi usually has deep green leaves. In contrast, the leaves of B. ashbyi subsp. boreoscaia are always a grey-green color.
Where does Banksia ashbyi subsp. ashbyi grow?
You can find Banksia ashbyi subsp. ashbyi in two main areas. One area is between Geraldton and Shark Bay in Western Australia. The other area is about 400 kilometers (250 miles) north, in the Kennedy Range. These two groups of plants are quite far apart.
How was this plant named?
For a long time, people knew there were two different forms of Banksia ashbyi. One form had a lignotuber, and the other did not. However, they were not officially named as separate types until 2008.
In 2008, a scientist named Alex George formally described the lignotuberous form. He named it B. ashbyi subsp. boreoscaia. When he did this, the non-lignotuberous form automatically became known as B. ashbyi subsp. ashbyi. This naming rule is called an autonym in botany.
