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Banksia rufa subsp. flavescens facts for kids

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Banksia rufa subsp. flavescens
Conservation status

Priority Three — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Banksia
Species:
Subspecies:
B. r. subsp. flavescens
Trinomial name
Banksia rufa subsp. flavescens
(A.S.George) A.R.Mast & K.R.Thiele
Synonyms
  • Dryandra ferruginea subsp. flavescens A.S.George

Banksia rufa subsp. flavescens is a special type of plant. It is a subspecies of the Banksia rufa plant. Think of a subspecies as a slightly different version of a main plant species. It's like different breeds of dogs, which are all dogs but look a bit different. This plant is a unique part of the Banksia family.

What is Banksia rufa subsp. flavescens?

This plant is a subspecies, meaning it's a group of plants within a species that has small differences from other groups. These differences might be in how it looks, where it grows, or how it behaves. Even though it's a subspecies, it can still breed with other Banksia rufa plants.

Why Did Its Name Change?

For a long time, this plant was known as Dryandra ferruginea subsp. flavescens. But in 2007, two scientists named Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele made an important discovery. They studied many plants and realized that all the plants in the Dryandra group were actually very similar to the Banksia group.

Because of this, they decided to combine all the Dryandra plants into the Banksia family. This is like deciding that certain types of apples should all be called "apples" instead of having a separate name.

Choosing a New Name

When the scientists moved Dryandra ferruginea into the Banksia family, they faced a problem. There was already a plant called Banksia ferruginea. To avoid confusion, Mast and Thiele had to give the old Dryandra ferruginea a new name. They chose Banksia rufa, and so this subspecies became Banksia rufa subsp. flavescens.

Where Does This Plant Grow?

Like many other plants in the Banksia ser. Dryandra group, Banksia rufa subsp. flavescens is found only in one special place. It is endemic to the South West Botanical Province of Western Australia.

What Does "Endemic" Mean?

When a plant is endemic to an area, it means it grows naturally only in that specific place and nowhere else in the world. This makes the plant very special and important to protect.

The South West Botanical Province

The South West Botanical Province is a unique region in Western Australia. It's known for having an incredible variety of plants that aren't found anywhere else. It's like a natural treasure chest of unique plant life. This area has a special climate and soil that allows these particular plants, including Banksia rufa subsp. flavescens, to thrive.

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