Orange dryandra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orange dryandra |
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| Banksia aurantia leaves and flowers | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Banksia
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| Species: |
aurantia
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| Synonyms | |
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Dryandra aurantia A.S.George |
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The orange dryandra (Banksia aurantia) is a special kind of shrub found only in Western Australia. It grows with its stems mostly hidden underground. This plant has unique leaves that are deeply divided, almost like feathers. It produces beautiful pale orange-pink flowers and egg-shaped fruits.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The orange dryandra is a low-growing shrub. Its stems stay underground, and the plant itself reaches only about 10 to 35 millimeters tall.
Its Leaves
The leaves of this plant are quite interesting. They are about 12 to 25 millimeters long and 25 to 45 millimeters wide. Each leaf is deeply divided into 18 to 28 thin, pointed sections on each side. You can see clear veins on the underside of the leaves.
Its Flowers and Fruit
The flowers grow in a cluster at the end of the stem. Each cluster has about eighty flowers. These flowers are pale orange-pink and are about 34 to 37 millimeters long. They have hairy, reddish, egg-shaped parts at their base. The orange dryandra usually blooms in April. After flowering, it produces a fruit called a follicle. This fruit is broadly egg-shaped, about 15 to 16 millimeters long and 10 to 14 millimeters wide.
How It Got Its Name
The orange dryandra was first officially described in 1996. A scientist named Alex George gave it the name Dryandra aurantia. He collected samples of the plant in 1994 near a place called Little Darkin Swamp in Western Australia. Another worker, Len Talbot, had actually found the species in 1991.
Later, in 2007, two other scientists, Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele, moved this plant into the Banksia group. This happened when the Dryandra group was combined with Banksia. The plant's species name, aurantia, comes from a Latin word meaning "orange." This likely refers to the color of its flowers.
Where Does It Live?
All the known groups of orange dryandra plants live inside Wandoo National Park. They are found specifically at Little Darkin Swamp, which is southeast of York.
Its Home Environment
This plant grows in flat, low-lying areas. These areas are often wet during certain seasons. The soil there is usually grey or white sand. The orange dryandra lives in open woodlands. Other plants that grow nearby include Hakea prostrata, candlestick banksia (Banksia attenuata), holly pea (Jacksonia floribunda), and different types of Melaleuca plants.
Why It Needs Our Help
The orange dryandra is a very rare plant. It has been listed as critically endangered under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It is also considered rare under Western Australia's Wildlife Conservation Act 1950.
There are only three known groups of these plants left. They all grow within a small area of about 4.5 square kilometers. The actual space they cover is less than 0.1 square kilometer. This means it's very important to protect these plants so they don't disappear forever.
