Banksia ashbyi subsp. ashbyi is a recently recognised subspecies of Banksia ashbyi

Banksia ashbyi

The Ashby's Banksia is a species of shrub in the plant genus Banksia. It occurs in heath and spinifex country along the coast of Western Australia between Geraldton and Exmouth.-Description:...

. It is the non-lignotuberous arborescent form of the species, which occurs between Geraldton and Shark Bay

Shark Bay

Shark Bay is a World Heritage listed bay in Western Australia. The term may also refer to:* the locality of Shark Bay, now known as Denham* Shark Bay Marine Park* Shark Bay , a shark exhibit at Sea World, Gold Coast, Australia* Shire of Shark Bay...

, and in the Kennedy Ranges.

Description

This subspecies is essentially the fire-sensitive tree form of B. ashbyi. It grows as a tree or shrub up to seven metres in height, and lacks a lignotuber

Lignotuber

A lignotuber is a starchy swelling of the root crown possessed by some plants as a protection against destruction of the plant stem by fire. The crown contains buds from which new stems may sprout, and a sufficient store of nutrients to support a period of growth in the absence of...

. This is in contrast to the other subspecies, B. ashbyi subsp. boreoscaia

Banksia ashbyi subsp. boreoscaia

Banksia ashbyi subsp. boreoscaia is a recently recognised subspecies of Banksia ashbyi. It is the lignotuberous form of the species, and occurs along the north-west coast of Western Australia, between Carnarvon and North West Cape.-Description:...

, which is a lignotuberous shrub that reaches no higher than two metres. In addition, B. ashbyi subsp. ashbyi usually has deep green leaves, whereas those of B. ashbyi subsp. boreoscaia are consistently grey-green in colour.

Distribution and habitat

B. ashbyi subsp. ashbyi occurs in two disjunct populations: between Geraldton and Shark Bay

Shark Bay

Shark Bay is a World Heritage listed bay in Western Australia. The term may also refer to:* the locality of Shark Bay, now known as Denham* Shark Bay Marine Park* Shark Bay , a shark exhibit at Sea World, Gold Coast, Australia* Shire of Shark Bay...

, and around 400 kilometres further north in the Kennedy Range.

Taxonomy

Although distinct lignotuberous and non-lignotuberous forms of B. ashbyi had long been recognised, they were not formally recognised as taxa until 2008, when Alex George

Alex George

Alexander Segger George is a Western Australian botanist. He is the authority on the plant genera Banksia and Dryandra...

 published the lignotuberous form as B. ashbyi subsp. boreoscaia, thus invoking the autonym

Autonym (botany)

In botanical nomenclature, autonyms are automatically created names, as regulated by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature . Autonyms are cited without an author. Relevant provisions are in articles 6.8, 22.1-3 and 26.1-3....

B. ashbyi subsp. ashbyi for the non-lignotuberous form.