Hoary banksia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hoary banksia |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Banksia
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| Species: |
incana
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| Synonyms | |
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Banksia sphaerocarpa var. glabrescens Meisn. |
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The Banksia incana, also known as the hoary banksia, is a type of shrub that grows only in the southwest of Western Australia. It has fuzzy stems and long, thin leaves. Its flowers are bright yellow and grow in round clusters. After flowering, it produces up to 36 seed pods, called follicles, which are covered in grey hairs.
Contents
What it Looks Like
The hoary banksia usually grows as a shrub. It can be about 70 cm (28 inches) tall and 100 cm (39 inches) wide. Many stems grow from a woody base called a lignotuber, which helps the plant survive fires.
- Stems and Leaves: Its stems are covered with soft, greyish hairs. The leaves are long and thin, like needles. They are usually 10 to 60 mm (0.4 to 2.4 inches) long and 1.5 to 2 mm (0.06 to 0.08 inches) wide. Each leaf has a sharp point at its tip.
- Flowers: The flowers grow in round clusters, like a ball, about 60 to 70 mm (2.4 to 2.8 inches) across. They are usually bright yellow, but sometimes they can have a reddish color. Each flower has a long, hooked part called a pistil.
- Seed Pods: After the flowers bloom, up to 36 egg-shaped seed pods, called follicles, form in each cluster. These pods are about 18 to 33 mm (0.7 to 1.3 inches) long. They are covered with short, greyish hairs. The hoary banksia flowers from November to April.
Naming the Hoary Banksia
The hoary banksia got its scientific name, Banksia incana, from a botanist named Alex George. He officially named it in 1981. The word incana comes from a Latin word meaning "hoary," which refers to the grey, furry seed pods.
Before 1981, another botanist, Carl Meissner, thought this plant was just a different version of another banksia species, Banksia sphaerocarpa. He called it Banksia sphaerocarpa var. glabrescens in 1856.
Different Types of Hoary Banksia
In 2008, Alex George described two slightly different types, or subspecies, of the hoary banksia. These are:
- Banksia incana var. brachyphylla: This type usually grows as a mounded shrub. Its leaves are shorter, typically 10 to 20 mm (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long.
- Banksia incana var. incana: This type is usually a more open shrub. Its leaves are longer, typically 30 to 50 mm (1.2 to 2 inches) long.
Where it Lives
The hoary banksia grows in sandy soil. You can find it in areas with heath, shrubland, or woodland. It often grows alongside other banksia species like Banksia attenuata and Banksia menziesii. This plant is found between the Arrowsmith River and the city of Perth in Western Australia.
The brachyphylla variety grows between Arrowsmith and Mogumber. There are also some groups of this plant found further away, near Gingin and Perth.
Life Cycle and Ecology
The hoary banksia has a special ability to regrow from its woody base (lignotuber) after a bushfire. This helps it survive in areas where fires are common.
Unusual Nectar
The hoary banksia is one of five types of banksia plants that have very unusual flower nectar. Most banksia plants produce clear, watery nectar. But the nectar of the hoary banksia starts out pale yellow and then slowly gets darker and thicker. After a day or two, it turns into a thick, olive-green slime. Eventually, it becomes an almost black, jelly-like lump at the bottom of the flowers.
Scientists are not entirely sure why this happens. Early ideas suggested tiny living things like cyanobacteria might be causing the change. However, later research showed that the color change is likely caused by chemicals from the plant itself. The nectar also has high levels of sugar and amino acids.
The purpose of this colored nectar is still a mystery, especially since animals that pollinate at night might not see the color. However, it's possible that nectar that changes color or smell as it gets older might encourage pollinators to visit it more quickly. It could also be that the color change is not related to pollination at all.
Conservation Status
Both types of Banksia incana are considered "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife. This means they are not currently at risk of disappearing.
Growing Hoary Banksia
If you want to grow hoary banksia from seeds, you don't need to do anything special to the seeds. They usually start to grow in about 14 days.
- Taylor, Anne; Hopper, Stephen (1988). The Banksia Atlas (Australian Flora and Fauna Series Number 8). Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-07124-9.
