Banksia strahanensis facts for kids

Banksia strahanensis was an amazing ancient plant, either a tree or a shrub, that lived a very long time ago. It's now extinct, meaning it no longer exists on Earth. Scientists know about it only from fossil leaves found in Tasmania, Australia. These fossils show us what this unique plant looked like.

Discovering an Ancient Plant

This plant lived during the Pleistocene epoch, which was a time of many ice ages. Its fossils were found in sediment (like hardened mud or sand) at a place called Regatta Point in western Tasmania. These fossils were discovered in the early 1980s.

In 1991, two scientists, Gregory J. Jordan and Robert S. Hill, officially described the plant. They named it Banksia strahanensis after the nearby town of Strahan. So, its full scientific name is "Banksia strahanensis Jordan & Hill".

What the Fossils Tell Us

Scientists found one complete fossil leaf and several pieces of other leaves. These leaves were long and very narrow. They had smooth edges, which is called an "entire margin".

The fossils looked a lot like the leaves of a living plant called Banksia spinulosa, also known as Hairpin Banksia. But there were some key differences that made B. strahanensis a separate species.

How B. strahanensis Was Unique

Even though it looked similar to Banksia spinulosa, B. strahanensis had its own special features.

• Its leaves did not show a clear network of veins on the surface, which is unusual for Banksia plants.
• It had a longer petiole, which is the small stalk that connects the leaf to the stem.
• Its narrow leaves had smooth, hairless undersides. Many forms of B. spinulosa with narrow leaves actually have hairy undersides.

Because of these differences, scientists decided the fossils belonged to a new, separate species.

Why Did It Disappear?

Scientists believe Banksia strahanensis was a unique plant that died out completely. It's not thought to be an ancestor of any Banksia species alive today. The lack of visible veins on its leaves was likely a special feature it developed over time.

Its extinction was probably caused by big changes in the climate during the Early Pleistocene Glaciations. These ice ages brought cold weather and changed the landscape, making it hard for plants like B. strahanensis to survive.

Where to See the Fossils

The main fossil specimen, called the holotype, and other pieces are kept safe. You can find them in the Department of Plant Science at the University of Tasmania.