False plumed-banksia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids False plumed-banksia |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Banksia
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| Species: |
pseudoplumosa
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| Synonyms | |
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Dryandra pseudoplumosa A.S.George |
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Banksia pseudoplumosa, also known as the false plumed-banksia, is a special kind of shrub found only in Western Australia. It has fuzzy stems and long, narrow leaves with pointy, triangle-shaped edges. This plant grows beautiful yellow flowers in clusters of about one hundred. After flowering, it forms fuzzy, woolly seed pods called follicles.
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What Does the False Plumed-Banksia Look Like?
The false plumed-banksia is a shrub that usually grows up to about 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall. Unlike some other plants, it does not have a special woody base called a lignotuber that helps it regrow after a fire.
Leaves and Their Unique Shape
Its leaves are long and narrow, measuring about 80 to 170 millimeters (3 to 7 inches) in length and 6 to 15 millimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) wide. Each leaf sits on a small stalk called a petiole, which is about 10 to 20 millimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long. The leaves have a unique shape, with 15 to 31 sharp, triangle-shaped points along each side. This makes them look a bit like a feather.
Bright Yellow Flowers
The plant produces between 90 and 100 bright yellow flowers. These flowers grow together in dense clusters, or "heads." At the base of each flower head are long, fuzzy, tapering leaves called involucral bracts, which can be up to 20 millimeters (0.8 inches) long.
The flower's outer part, called the perianth, is about 16 to 18 millimeters (0.6 to 0.7 inches) long. The part of the flower that helps make seeds, called the pistil, is about 23 to 25 millimeters (0.9 to 1.0 inches) long and has a strong curve.
Flowering Time and Seed Pods
False plumed-banksia flowers bloom from November to December. After the flowers fade, they form oblong or egg-shaped seed pods called follicles. These follicles are very fuzzy and woolly. Each flower head usually produces only one to three follicles, and they are about 16 to 18 millimeters (0.6 to 0.7 inches) long.
How the False Plumed-Banksia Got Its Name
This plant was first officially described in 1996 by a scientist named Alex George. He named it Dryandra pseudoplumosa. He published his description in a science journal called Nuytsia, using samples collected by Margaret Pieroni near Salt River Road. This area is inside the Stirling Range National Park.
Later, in 2007, two other scientists, Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele, moved all plants from the Dryandra group into the Banksia group. Because of this, they renamed this species Banksia pseudoplumosa. The "pseudo" part of its name means "false," and "plumosa" refers to its feathery leaves, which look similar to another plant called the plumed-banksia.
Where Does the False Plumed-Banksia Live?
The false plumed-banksia grows in woodlands that have heath plants underneath. You can find it in the Stirling Range National Park and in small patches of remaining natural areas north of Albany, Western Australia.
In 2009, scientists estimated there were about 3,400 of these plants. They were spread across seven different groups within the Stirling Range National Park. The total area where they grow is about 600 square kilometers (230 square miles), but the plants themselves only cover about 0.15 square kilometers (0.06 square miles) of that space.
Protecting the False Plumed-Banksia
The false plumed-banksia is considered an "endangered" species. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. Both the Australian Government and the Department of Environment and Conservation in Western Australia list it as a threatened plant.
Main Dangers to the Plant
There are two main things that threaten the false plumed-banksia:
- Dieback disease: This is caused by a type of water mold called Phytophthora cinnamomi. This mold attacks the plant's roots and makes it sick, causing it to die.
- Wrong fire patterns: Banksias need fire to help their seeds open and grow. However, if fires happen too often, not often enough, or at the wrong time of year, it can harm the plants and stop them from reproducing.
To help protect this special plant, the Government of Western Australia has created a plan to help it recover.
