Dark-bract banksia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dark-bract banksia |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Banksia
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| Species: |
fuscobractea
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| Synonyms | |
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The Dark-bract banksia (Banksia fuscobractea) is a special type of shrub. It is found only in a small part of Western Australia. This plant has unique leaves that are prickly and shaped like a wedge.
Its flowers are pale yellow and cream. They grow in large groups, with almost 200 flowers in each head. After flowering, it produces three or four egg-shaped fruits called follicles.
Contents
What Does the Dark-Bract Banksia Look Like?
The Dark-bract banksia is a shrub that usually grows up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) (about 3 feet) tall. Its stems are covered in thick, tangled hairs. Unlike some other plants, it does not have a special woody base called a lignotuber that helps it regrow after a fire.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this banksia are shaped like a wedge. They are about 40–70 mm (1.6–2.8 in) (1.5 to 2.7 inches) long and 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) (0.4 to 1.2 inches) wide. Each leaf has a short stem, or petiole, about 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long. The edges of the leaves have four to nine sharp, pointed teeth on each side.
The flowers grow in a head, with about 180 to 190 flowers in total. At the base of the flower head, there are dark, thin leaf-like parts called involucral bracts. These are about 8–11 mm (0.31–0.43 in) long. Each flower has a pale yellow outer part, called a perianth, which is 20–23 mm (0.79–0.91 in) long. It also has a cream-coloured pistil, which is the part that receives pollen, about 22–26 mm (0.87–1.02 in) long.
When Does it Flower?
The Dark-bract banksia flowers from July to October. After flowering, it produces egg-shaped fruits called follicles. These fruits are slightly hairy and about 9–12 mm (0.35–0.47 in) long. Each flower head only produces about three or four of these fruits.
How Was it Named?
This banksia was first officially described in 1996. A scientist named Alex George wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. He gave it the name Dryandra fuscobractea. The plants he studied were collected in 1986 by Margaret Pieroni near a place called Gillingarra.
Later, in 2007, two other scientists, Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele, moved all the Dryandra plants into the Banksia group. This is why its name changed to Banksia fuscobractea.
What Does the Name Mean?
The second part of its scientific name, fuscobractea, comes from two Latin words. "Fusco" means "dark," and "bractea" means "a bract." This name refers to the dark-coloured bracts found at the base of its flower heads.
Where Does the Dark-Bract Banksia Live?
The Dark-bract banksia grows in a type of low shrubland called kwongan. It is found only near Gillingarra in Western Australia.
Sadly, in 2008, scientists estimated that there were only about 55 grown plants left in the wild. This makes it a very rare plant.
Why is it Endangered?
The Dark-bract banksia is considered "critically endangered." This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. The Australian Government lists it under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Department of Environment and Conservation in Western Australia also lists it as "Threatened Flora."
Scientists have created a plan to help this plant survive. The main dangers to the Dark-bract banksia include:
- Work on roads, firebreaks, and fences.
- Digging up gravel from the ground.
- Weeds that invade its habitat.
- Farming activities that change its environment.
