Banksia audax facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Banksia audax |
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| Banksia audax growing east of Yellowdine | |
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Banksia audax is a special kind of shrub that grows only in Western Australia. It has rough, grey bark and stems covered in soft, woolly hairs. Its leaves are hairy and have jagged edges. When it blooms, it shows off beautiful golden-orange flower spikes.
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What Banksia audax Looks Like
Banksia audax is a shrub that usually grows up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) (about 3 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling underground called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after a fire.
Its bark is grey and has cracks. The branches are covered in thick, woolly hairs. The leaves are shaped like a wedge and are hairy on both sides. They are 20–70 mm (0.79–2.76 in) long and 8–20 mm (0.31–0.79 in) wide. The edges of the leaves have sharp, triangular teeth, about 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) long.
The flowers grow in upright, oval-shaped spikes. These spikes are about 50–55 mm (2.0–2.2 in) wide when the flowers open. The flowers themselves are golden orange. Each flower has a part called a perianth that is 20–23 mm (0.79–0.91 in) long and hairy on the outside.
Banksia audax flowers from November to January. After flowering, the spikes can have up to forty seed pods. These pods are called follicles. Each one is 8–13 mm (0.31–0.51 in) long, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) high, and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide. They are also hairy.
How Banksia audax Got Its Name
The plant Banksia audax was first officially described in 1928. This was done by a botanist named Charles Gardner. He found the plant in 1926.
Gardner chose the name "audax" because it means "bold" in Latin. He thought the plant was "bold" for growing so far away from the coast, deep inland.
This shrub belongs to a group of plants called Banksia. It doesn't have many close relatives. Other banksias like B. benthamiana and B. laevigata are similar. But these are larger shrubs and do not have a lignotuber.
Where Banksia audax Grows
Banksia audax is found in Western Australia. It grows from near the town of Southern Cross almost down to the coast.
You can find it growing in areas with heathland plants. It also lives in mallee areas. It prefers to grow in sandy yellow soil.
Protecting Banksia audax
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife says that Banksia audax is "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
Growing Banksia audax at Home
If you want to grow Banksia audax, you can plant its seeds. The seeds do not need any special treatment. They usually take between 19 and 46 days to sprout.
