Banksia novae-zelandiae facts for kids

Banksia novae-zelandiae is an extinct plant species. We only know about it from fossil leaves. These fossils were found in the South Island of New Zealand. This plant is a type of Banksia, a group of plants mostly found in Australia today.

What it Looked Like

Scientists learned about this plant from several leaf fossils. The leaves had a unique shape. They had triangular, pointed sections called lobes. These lobes were cut all the way back to the main vein of the leaf.

The leaves also had tiny pores called stomata. These pores help the plant "breathe." Both sides of the leaves had small bumps where tiny hairs used to be. The underside of the leaves also had special bumps called papillae.

How it was Discovered and Named

The fossil leaves of B. novae-zelandiae were found in the Newvale Mine. This mine is in the Waimumu Coalfield, Southland District, South Island, New Zealand. The fossils were in a thin layer of old leaves found within a coal seam.

Scientists officially described and named B. novae-zelandiae in 2010. Its name, novae-zelandiae, means "from New Zealand." This is because the fossils were found there.

Scientists placed this plant in the Banksia group for several reasons. Its stomata (tiny pores) and the way its hair bases were formed are unique to Banksia plants. The pattern of veins in its leaves also looked like other Banksia species. Plus, the way its leaves were divided into triangular lobes is a key feature.

Scientists think B. novae-zelandiae might be a very old type of Banksia. It could even be an ancestor to many of the Banksia species we see today.

Where and When it Lived

The leaf fossils of B. novae-zelandiae are from a time called the late Oligocene to early Miocene periods. This was about 23 to 34 million years ago.

Scientists believe this plant grew in swamps. These swamps were likely near a coastal river delta. The area had a warm and constantly wet climate. The many layers of lignite (a type of coal) found there suggest the land was often waterlogged. The plants in this area had tough, leathery leaves. This suggests the environment was similar to a heath habitat.

Its Journey Across Continents

Banksia novae-zelandiae is important because it's the first Banksia fossil found outside Australia. This shows that Banksia plants once lived in New Zealand.

For a long time, scientists thought that some plants in New Zealand came from the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. This supercontinent broke apart millions of years ago. The presence of B. novae-zelandiae in New Zealand fits with this idea. It suggests that Banksia plants might have been widespread across Gondwana before the landmasses separated.

Some scientists have suggested that New Zealand was completely underwater in the late Oligocene. If this were true, it would mean Banksia seeds had to travel thousands of kilometers across the ocean to reach New Zealand. While possible, the fossil evidence makes the idea of a land connection or earlier presence more likely.