Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Banksia |
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| Subspecies: |
B. i. subsp. compar
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| Trinomial name | |
| Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar (R.Br.) K.R.Thiele
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Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar is a type of plant known as a subspecies. It is part of the Banksia integrifolia family. This special plant has bigger, shinier leaves than other similar banksias. You can find it growing much further north in Australia.
What Makes This Banksia Special?
Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar looks a lot like another banksia called Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia. However, the compar subspecies has larger, very shiny leaves. Its leaves also have wavy edges, which makes them easy to spot!
How Did This Plant Get Its Name?
Scientists study plants and sometimes change their names as they learn more. The first time Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar was officially found was in August 1802. A scientist named Robert Brown collected a sample near Keppel Bay, Queensland, Australia.
In 1810, Robert Brown named it Banksia compar. The word compar comes from Latin and means "similar." This showed that he knew it was like Banksia integrifolia. Over the years, other scientists studied it too. In 1870, George Bentham thought it was just the same as B. integrifolia.
But later, in 1913, Frederick Bailey said it was a different variety of B. integrifolia. Then, in 1994, Kevin Thiele decided it was special enough to be called a subspecies. So, its full scientific name today is Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar.
Scientists also found a version of this plant that grows in the mountains. They first thought it was just a mountain form of subsp. compar. But in 1994, they decided it was different enough to be its own subspecies. They named it Banksia integrifolia subsp. monticola.
Where Does This Banksia Grow?
You can find Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar in Australia. It grows along the east coast of Queensland. Its range stretches from Brisbane in the south up to Proserpine in the north.
This plant usually grows in sandy soil that isn't very rich in nutrients. It likes to be close to the coast, usually within 50 kilometres (about 30 miles) of the ocean. There might even be some growing further north near Bishops Peak, which would make its home range even bigger!
