Banksieaephyllum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Banksieaephyllum |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Subfamily: | Grevilleoideae |
| Tribe: | Banksieae |
| Genus: | †Banksieaephyllum Cookson & Duigan |
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See text |
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Banksieaephyllum is a special name given to fossil leaves. These leaves are from ancient plants that belong to a group called Proteaceae. Specifically, they are from a plant family known as Banksieae. Scientists use this name when they find fossil leaves that look like they belong to the Banksieae group, but they can't tell exactly which plant genus they came from.
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How Banksieaephyllum Got Its Name
Before the 1950s, many fossil leaves were thought to be from plants like Banksia or Dryandra. People often guessed which plant a fossil leaf came from based on its shape. For example, leaves with pointy, triangular edges were often called Dryandra. Leaves with saw-like edges were usually called Banksia.
But in 1950, two smart scientists, Isabel Cookson and Suzanne Duigan, found a problem with this idea. They discovered that the leaves of Banksia and Dryandra look so similar that it's very hard to tell them apart just from fossils.
Since Banksia and Dryandra were part of the same plant group (the Banksieae tribe), Cookson and Duigan created a new name: Banksieaephyllum. This name was for all those fossil leaves that clearly belonged to the Banksieae group but couldn't be definitely identified as Banksia or Dryandra.
What the Name Means Today
Over time, the way scientists understand Banksieaephyllum has changed a bit. The plants Banksia and Dryandra are now grouped even more closely together. They are part of a smaller group called Banksiinae. There's also a new group called Musgraveinae with two other plant types.
Some scientists still use Banksieaephyllum for any fossil leaf from the larger Banksieae group that can't be identified more specifically. This means it could include fossils from the Musgravinae group too.
Other scientists think Cookson and Duigan meant for the name to be used only for fossils that are definitely Banksia or Dryandra but can't be told apart. This means they see Banksieaephyllum as a name for fossils from the Banksiinae group.
Recently, the plant Dryandra was officially moved into the Banksia genus. If the second idea about Banksieaephyllum is correct, then Banksieaephyllum might eventually become another name for Banksia.
Where These Fossils Are Found
Fossils named Banksieaephyllum have been discovered in rocks that are very old. These rocks date from the Paleocene to the early Miocene periods. That's a time span of millions of years!
In 1998, a summary of all known Banksieaephyllum fossils listed 16 different types, or species. Many of these have been found in Australia, especially in places like Victoria and Tasmania.
Some Examples of Banksieaephyllum Fossils
Here are a few examples of the fossil species that were once called Banksieaephyllum:
- Banksieaephyllum acuminatum: Found in the Oligocene period in Latrobe Valley, Victoria.
- Banksieaephyllum angustum: Also from Latrobe Valley. It had long, narrow leaves, a bit like some modern Banksia plants.
- Banksieaephyllum cuneatum: Found in the Early and Middle Eocene periods in Victoria. This one might be more closely related to a plant called Musgravea.
- Banksieaephyllum linearis: Found in the Early Oligocene in Lake Cethana, Tasmania. Its leaves were up to 5.5 cm long. They looked like Banksia spinulosa but had some cell features like Musgravea.
- Banksieaephyllum praefastigatum: Found in the Late Paleocene in New South Wales.
- Banksieaephyllum taylorii: Also from the Late Palaeocene in New South Wales.
Changes to the Banksieaephyllum List
Scientists are always learning new things! In 2016, a study by Carpenter, Jordan, and Hill made some changes to the Banksieaephyllum list.
- They moved B. incisum and B. cuneatum to a new genus called Banksieaefolia.
- They also moved B. acuminatum into the Banksia genus and renamed it Banksia cooksoniae.
- Several other species, including B. attenuatum, B. longifolium, B. pinnatum, B. praefastigatum, B. regularis, and B. westdaliense, were moved out of the Banksieae group entirely. They were placed into a separate genus called Pseudobanksia.
These changes show how scientists continue to study and understand ancient plant life.
