Western mountain banksia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Western mountain banksia |
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| Banksia oreophila on Bluff Knoll | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Banksia
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| Species: |
oreophila
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| Synonyms | |
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Banksia quercifolia var. integrifolia F.Muell. |
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The Western mountain banksia (Banksia oreophila) is a special type of shrub. It's also known as the mountain banksia. This plant only grows in the southwest part of Western Australia. It has smooth stems and leaves that look like a wedge or a narrow egg. Its flowers are pale pink to purple and grow in cylinder shapes. After the flowers, it forms up to twenty seed pods, called follicles. You can find this banksia on hills and mountains in the Stirling and Barren Ranges.
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About the Western Mountain Banksia
The Western mountain banksia is a shrub that usually grows between 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) and 3 m (9.8 ft) tall. It has smooth bark that can be grey or light brown. Its leaves are shaped like a wedge or a narrow egg. They are 20 mm (0.79 in) to 110 mm (4.3 in) long and 5 mm (0.20 in) to 25 mm (0.98 in) wide. The leaves sit on a small stalk, called a petiole, which is 2 mm (0.079 in) to 4 mm (0.16 in) long. The edges of the leaves are mostly smooth, with only a few small teeth, if any.
Flowers and Seed Pods
The flowers of the Western mountain banksia are pale purple to pink. They grow in a cylindrical shape, like a bottle brush. When they open, these flower spikes are 20 mm (0.79 in) to 90 mm (3.5 in) long and 40 mm (1.6 in) to 55 mm (2.2 in) wide. At the bottom of each flower spike, there are small, pointed leaves called involucral bracts, which are 5 mm (0.20 in) to 10 mm (0.39 in) long.
The main part of the flower, called the perianth, is 20 mm (0.79 in) to 29 mm (1.1 in) long. The part that receives pollen, called the pistil, is 15 mm (0.59 in) to 21 mm (0.83 in) long and looks like a thin wire.
This banksia flowers from June to July. After flowering, it forms up to twenty seed pods, known as follicles. These pods are oval-shaped, 20 mm (0.79 in) to 28 mm (1.1 in) long, and 10 mm (0.39 in) to 18 mm (0.71 in) wide. They stay surrounded by the dried parts of the old flowers.
Naming the Western Mountain Banksia
This banksia was first officially described in 1869 by a scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He gave it the name Banksia quercifolia var. integrifolia.
Later, in 1981, another scientist named Alex George decided it was special enough to be its own species. However, there was already a plant called Banksia integrifolia. So, George chose a new name: Banksia oreophila. This name comes from ancient Greek words that mean "mountain-loving," which perfectly describes where this banksia likes to grow.
Where It Grows
The Western mountain banksia grows in rocky areas. It can be found in low heath or shrubland habitats. It mostly grows on the higher parts and tops of the Stirling Range and Barren Ranges in Western Australia.
Growing This Banksia
If you want to grow a Western mountain banksia from its seeds, you don't need to do anything special to the seeds first. They usually start to sprout within 23 to 27 days.
