Banksia epimicta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Banksia epimicta |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Banksia
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| Species: |
epimicta
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| Synonyms | |
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Dryandra epimicta A.S.George |
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Banksia epimicta is a special type of shrub that grows flat on the ground. It is found only in a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that region.
It has crowded, sharply pointed leaves that look like feathers. Its large flower clusters are creamy white and pale yellow. These flowers have a strong, unpleasant smell. After flowering, it produces a few small seed pods called follicles.
What it Looks Like
Banksia epimicta is a prostrate shrub. This means its stems spread out and lie mostly on the ground. It also has a special woody base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after things like bushfires.
Its leaves are crowded together. They are long and narrow, measuring about 110 to 330 mm (4 to 13 inches) long. They are also 7 to 14 mm (0.3 to 0.6 inches) wide. Each leaf has 10 to 35 sharp, curved teeth on its sides.
The flowers grow in large clusters that point downwards. Each cluster holds between 45 and 70 flowers. These flowers have a strong, unpleasant smell. At the base of the flower cluster are dull brown, leaf-like parts called involucral bracts. They are about 40 to 50 mm (1.6 to 2 inches) long.
The flowers themselves have creamy white and pale yellow petals. These petals are called a perianth and are 43 to 52 mm (1.7 to 2 inches) long. There is also a curved, cream-colored part called a pistil, which is 45 to 58 mm (1.8 to 2.3 inches) long. This plant flowers from July to September. After flowering, it produces several smooth seed pods, or follicles, that are about 18 to 19 mm (0.7 to 0.75 inches) long.
Name and History
This banksia was first officially described in 1996. A scientist named Alex George gave it the name Dryandra epimicta. He wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. The plants he studied were collected near Kulin in 1986.
Later, in 2007, two other scientists, Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele, moved all the Dryandra plants into the Banksia group. So, this species became Banksia epimicta.
The second part of its name, epimicta, comes from ancient Greek words. Mykter means "a nose" or "a nostril." The prefix epi- means "upon." This name refers to the strong, unpleasant smell of its flowers.
Where it Lives
Banksia epimicta grows in a type of shrubland called kwongan. This is a special kind of plant community found in Western Australia. It lives in a very small area near Kulin. In 1990, only about one hundred of these plants were known to exist.
How it is Protected
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given this banksia a special status. It is classified as "Priority Two". This means that the plant is not well known. It is found in only one or a few locations, so it needs to be watched carefully to protect it.
