Banksia shanklandiorum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Banksia shanklandiorum |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Banksia
|
| Species: |
shanklandiorum
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Dryandra shanklandiorum Randall |
|
The Banksia shanklandiorum is a type of dense shrub that grows only in Western Australia. It has stems covered in fine hairs and unique leaves with sharp, pointed parts. Its flowers are pink to gold and grow in large groups of about 100. After flowering, it produces egg-shaped seed pods.
What Does It Look Like?
The Banksia shanklandiorum is a bushy shrub with stems that feel hairy. Its leaves are quite long, usually between 60 mm (2.4 in) and 460 mm (18 in), and wide, from 20 mm (0.79 in) to 140 mm (5.5 in). Each leaf has many sharp, narrow parts, usually nine to sixteen on each side.
The flowers are a beautiful mix of pink and gold. They grow in round clusters, with about 100 flowers in each cluster. At the base of each flower cluster are special, rusty-haired leaves called involucral bracts, which are about 45 mm (1.8 in) to 55 mm (2.2 in) long.
The main part of the flower, called the perianth, is 48 mm (1.9 in) to 58 mm (2.3 in) long. The pistil, which is the part that receives pollen, is even longer, from 58 mm (2.3 in) to 74 mm (2.9 in). This plant usually flowers in July and August. After the flowers, it grows egg-shaped seed pods, called follicles, which are about 12 mm (0.47 in) to 15 mm (0.59 in) long and hairy on the bottom half.
How Was It Named?
This special plant was first officially described in 1988 by a scientist named Roderick Peter Randall. He named it Dryandra shanklandiorum. He wrote about it in a science journal called Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. He had collected samples of the plant near a place called Dowerin in 1985.
Later, in 2007, two other scientists, Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele, decided to move all plants from the Dryandra group into the Banksia group. So, they changed its name to Banksia shanklandiorum.
Where Does It Grow?
The Banksia shanklandiorum lives in areas with tall shrubs. You can find it in Western Australia, specifically between the towns of Cadoux and Hyden. This area is part of a larger natural region known as the Avon Wheatbelt.
Is It Protected?
Yes, this banksia is considered important! The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given it a special status called "Priority Four". This means that the plant is rare or close to becoming threatened, so it needs to be looked after carefully.
