Banksia recurvistylis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Banksia recurvistylis |
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| Banksia recurvistylis near Wandering | |
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Banksia sp. 'Wandering' (F.&J. Hort 3181) |
Banksia recurvistylis is a special kind of shrub found only in a small part of Western Australia. It has unique leaves that are deeply cut, almost like feathers. This plant also grows pretty pale yellow flowers.
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What Does Banksia recurvistylis Look Like?
Banksia recurvistylis is a shrub that usually grows up to about 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall. It can spread out to about 3 meters (10 feet) wide. This plant has one main stem at its base. It does not have a special woody swelling called a lignotuber that helps some plants regrow after fire.
Its leaves are packed closely together. They are about 8 to 11 centimeters (3 to 4.3 inches) long. They are also 2.2 to 3.5 centimeters (0.8 to 1.4 inches) wide. The leaves are deeply cut with many narrow, triangle-shaped parts on each side. The underside of these parts is covered with soft, woolly hairs.
The flowers grow in groups of 25 to 40. These groups are found on short branches on the plant. The flowers are pale yellow. Each flower's outer parts, called the perianth, are about 3.2 to 3.8 centimeters (1.3 to 1.5 inches) long. The part of the flower that receives pollen, called the pistil, is about 4.4 to 4.5 centimeters (1.7 to 1.8 inches) long.
This plant flowers from November to early December. After flowering, it produces a woody, hairy fruit. This fruit is called a follicle and is about 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) long.
How Did Banksia recurvistylis Get Its Name?
The plant Banksia recurvistylis was officially described in 2009. This was done by a scientist named Kevin Thiele. He wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. The specimens he studied were collected by Fred Hort in 2008 near Wandering.
The second part of its scientific name, recurvistylis, has a special meaning. It comes from two Latin words:
- recurvus means "curved backwards."
- stylus means "style" (which is part of a flower).
This name refers to how the styles of older flowers on this plant curve backwards.
Where Does Banksia recurvistylis Grow?
This type of banksia plant grows in or near areas with low, dense shrubs, called heathland. It prefers shallow soil found near large rock formations called granite outcrops.
Banksia recurvistylis is only found in a very small area. It is known from just five groups of plants. These groups are located in the Monadnocks Conservation Park and Wandering Conservation Park in Western Australia.
Is Banksia recurvistylis Protected?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Banksia recurvistylis a special classification. It is listed as "Priority Two".
This means that the plant is not very well known. It is also found in only one or a few specific locations. This classification helps protect the plant and its habitat.
