Banksia lepidorhiza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Banksia lepidorhiza |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Banksia
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| Species: |
lepidorhiza
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| Synonyms | |
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Dryandra lepidorhiza A.S.George |
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The Banksia lepidorhiza is a special type of shrub that grows flat on the ground. It is found only in Western Australia. This plant has stems that grow underground. Its leaves are long and have sharp, pointed parts. The flowers are pink, cream, and yellow, and grow in groups of about thirty. After flowering, it produces egg-shaped seed pods called follicles. This plant is only known to grow near a town called Woodanilling.
Contents
Banksia lepidorhiza: A Special Australian Plant
What Does It Look Like?
Banksia lepidorhiza is a shrub that spreads out, usually growing up to 1.5 meters wide. It has stems that stay hidden underground. This plant also has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after a fire.
Its leaves are a dull green color. They are divided into many small, sharp, pointed sections. Each side of a leaf can have between fifteen and twenty-five of these sections.
The flowers grow in round clusters. Each cluster has about twenty-five to thirty flowers. At the base of these flower clusters are narrow, spear-shaped leaves called involucral bracts, which are about 9–10 mm long.
The flowers themselves have a deep pink outer part, called a perianth, which is about 32–34 mm long. The central part of the flower, the pistil, is cream-colored and dull yellow. It measures about 31–33 mm long. This plant usually flowers from October to November. After the flowers, it produces broad, egg-shaped seed pods. These pods are 10–15 mm long and have a smooth surface.
How It Got Its Name
This plant was first officially described in 1996. A scientist named Alex George gave it the name Dryandra lepidorhiza. He wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. He found the plant specimen west of Woodanilling in 1986.
The second part of its name, lepidorhiza, comes from ancient Greek words. "Lepis" means 'scale', and "rhiza" means 'root'. This name refers to the plant's underground stems. These stems are covered with small, scale-like leaves called bracts.
Later, in 2007, two other scientists, Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele, made a change. They moved all Dryandra plants into the Banksia group. So, this plant was renamed Banksia lepidorhiza.
Where Does It Grow?
Banksia lepidorhiza is only found in one specific area. This area is where the first plant specimen was discovered. It grows in low kwongan, which is a type of shrubland. This habitat is located in the Avon Wheatbelt biogeographic region of Western Australia.
Protecting This Plant
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given this banksia a special classification. It is listed as "Priority One". This means that the plant is known from only one or a few places. These locations could be at risk, so the plant needs to be protected.
