The Banksia Atlas facts for kids

The Banksia Atlas is a special book that helps us learn about Banksia plants. Banksias are famous Australian wildflowers. This book shows where different types of Banksias grow, what kind of places they live in, and how they look. It was first published in 1988. The book was created after a big project that lasted three years. More than 400 people, both experts and volunteers, helped with the project across Australia.

How the Project Started

The idea for The Banksia Atlas came from another successful project. This was the Atlas of Australian Birds. That project used over 7,000 volunteers to record where birds were seen. It's a great example of "citizen science". This means regular people help scientists collect information.

Dr. Stephen Hopper was inspired by the bird atlas. He wanted to map Australian plants in a similar way. From 1979 to 1983, Dr. Hopper tried out two smaller projects. He tested how volunteers could help map plants like kangaroo paw and some orchids of Western Australia. He also tested using computer maps for these records.

In 1983, a group called the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) asked Dr. Hopper for help. They wanted to try a big study across Australia for an important plant group. They chose Banksias because they are well-known and found in many places. Also, it was easy to tell them apart. But scientists didn't know much about where they grew or what their homes were like.

The Banksia project began in February 1984. It was funded by the ABRS and another group, the Department of Conservation and Land Management. The project became public in July 1984. Volunteers collected information for over two years. During this time, more than 25,000 records of Banksia plants were sent in by over 400 volunteers.

Amazing Discoveries and New Information

Because of The Banksia Atlas project, many exciting things were found.

• Two completely new species of Banksia were discovered in Western Australia: B. epica and B. oligantha (Wagin Banksia).
• New types of other Banksias were recognized. These included B. oblongifolia (Fern-leaved Banksia) and B. occidentalis (Red Swamp Banksia). Also, B. seminuda (River Banksia) and B. spinulosa (Hairpin Banksia) had new varieties found.
• A special garden type of B. serrata (Saw Banksia) called Banksia 'Superman' was officially registered.
• Some new hybrid plants (mixtures of two different species) were recorded for the first time.
• Rare flower colors were also noticed.

The project greatly increased what we knew about where almost every Banksia species grows. For about 40 species, their known range was extended to important new places. Scientists also found new groups of rare Banksia species. This helped them understand how well these rare plants were doing. For example, B. chamaephyton (Fishbone Banksia) was taken off the list of rare plants. This happened because the Atlas project showed there were more of them than thought.

About the Book

The Banksia Atlas book was put together by Anne Taylor and Stephen Hopper. It was published by the Australian Government Publishing Service. The first edition came out in 1988. It was printed again with some changes in 1991.

The book shares information about 75 species, 1 subspecies, and 14 varieties of Banksia. For each type of Banksia, the Atlas includes:

• An illustration (a drawing or picture).
• A short discussion about the plant.
• A map showing where it grows.
• Details from the observations. This includes how many plants were seen, how they grew, what kind of homes they lived in, and how they reacted to fire. It also shows when they flower and what animals help pollinate them.

Taylor, Anne; Hopper, Stephen (1988). The Banksia Atlas (Australian Flora and Fauna Series Number 8). Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-07124-9.

See also

In Spanish: The Banksia Atlas para niños