Banksia longicarpa facts for kids

Banksia longicarpa is an ancient plant that is now extinct. It was either a tree or a bush. Scientists know about it from fossil "cones" found in rocks. These fossils were discovered in places like Poole Creek and Woomera in northern South Australia.

Its long, woody cones with clear seed pods look a lot like the cones of a living plant called Banksia serrata.

Discovering Banksia longicarpa

Banksia longicarpa is a fascinating example of an ancient plant that once thrived in Australia. We know it existed because of special fossils. These fossils are like natural records of life from millions of years ago.

What Was Banksia longicarpa?

This plant was part of the Banksia family, which includes many types of trees and shrubs found in Australia today. Banksia longicarpa had cones that were long and woody. These cones held its seeds, much like pinecones do for pine trees. What's really interesting is how similar its fossil cones are to the cones of a plant still alive today, the Banksia serrata. This similarity helps scientists understand what Banksia longicarpa might have looked like when it was alive.

Where Were Its Fossils Found?

The fossil cones of Banksia longicarpa were found in rocks in South Australia. Specifically, they were discovered in areas known as Poole Creek and Woomera. Finding fossils in these locations helps scientists piece together the ancient environments of Australia. It shows us what kind of plants grew there a very long time ago.

When Did It Live?

Banksia longicarpa lived during a time called the Miocene epoch. This was a period in Earth's history that lasted from about 23 million to 5.3 million years ago. During the Miocene, the Earth's climate was generally warmer than it is today. Many new types of plants and animals appeared during this time. The discovery of Banksia longicarpa fossils helps us learn more about the plants that lived in Australia during this ancient period.