Banksia benthamiana
Encyclopedia
Bentham's Banksia is a species
of shrub
or tree
in the plant
genus
Banksia
. It occurs in scattered populations in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia
, one near Mullewa
and the other near Dalwallinu
.
shrub which ranges from 1.8 to 4 m tall. The roughly flaking bark is grey, and the stems are tomentose. Borne on a 5–15 mm long petiole, the leaves are 10–25 cm (4–11 in) long, and 5–10 mm wide, with margins (edges) that have fine teeth or are straight (entire). The upper and under leaf surfaces are densely hairy when young and become smooth. Flowering occurs from November to January. The flower spike or inflorescence
arises on small short side branches, and is 5–10 cm high. Both the individual flowers and styles are a gold to orange-brown colour. Old cones remain covered with greying flowers and may bear up to 130 narrowly elliptic smooth furry follicles, which measure 10–15 mm long, 3–5 mm high, and 3–5 mm wide.
and Kulja
in Western Australia. It grows on plains in shrubland, sometimes as the emergent plant, on brownish yellow sandy loam or clay-loam, sometimes over laterite
. Many of the populations are small and on road verges. The annual rainfall in these areas is around 300 mm.
in 1964 from a January 1940 collection near the town of Dalwallinu. He named it in honour of George Bentham
(1800–1884), author of Flora Australiensis
.
It has been traditionally considered to be closely related to B. ashbyi
, a larger shrub with larger, more deeply-lobed leaves, bright orange flowers and wider, more rounded follicles. It is probably related also to B. audax
, a much smaller species with pubescent-hirsute perianth. Using morphological cladistics, Kevin Thiele
placed it in a group with B. audax and B. laevigata
, based on very small distinctive seedling leaves, and linear pollen presenters. This group was supported in Mast and Givnish’s 2002 molecular study. The position of Banksia ashbyi was unclear in this latter study but it did not appear to be closely related.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
or tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
in the plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Banksia
Banksia
Banksia is a genus of around 170 species in the plant family Proteaceae. These Australian wildflowers and popular garden plants are easily recognised by their characteristic flower spikes and fruiting "cones" and heads. When it comes to size, banksias range from prostrate woody shrubs to trees up...
. It occurs in scattered populations in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, one near Mullewa
Mullewa, Western Australia
- External links :* *...
and the other near Dalwallinu
Dalwallinu, Western Australia
Dalwallinu is a town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, located 248 km from Perth via the Great Northern Highway. Agriculture and supporting industries are the town's primary economic activities. The town is also the first town on The Wildflower Way, a world-famous Western...
.
Description
Banksia benthamiana is a nonlignotuberousLignotuber
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...
shrub which ranges from 1.8 to 4 m tall. The roughly flaking bark is grey, and the stems are tomentose. Borne on a 5–15 mm long petiole, the leaves are 10–25 cm (4–11 in) long, and 5–10 mm wide, with margins (edges) that have fine teeth or are straight (entire). The upper and under leaf surfaces are densely hairy when young and become smooth. Flowering occurs from November to January. The flower spike or inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
arises on small short side branches, and is 5–10 cm high. Both the individual flowers and styles are a gold to orange-brown colour. Old cones remain covered with greying flowers and may bear up to 130 narrowly elliptic smooth furry follicles, which measure 10–15 mm long, 3–5 mm high, and 3–5 mm wide.
Distribution and habitat
It is found in scattered populations between MullewaMullewa, Western Australia
- External links :* *...
and Kulja
Kulja, Western Australia
Kulja is a small town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. The town is situated along the Bonnie Rock Burakin Road.The area was charted in 1908 and the Indigenous Australian name of a local soak was recorded as Kulja....
in Western Australia. It grows on plains in shrubland, sometimes as the emergent plant, on brownish yellow sandy loam or clay-loam, sometimes over laterite
Laterite
Laterites are soil types rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are rusty-red because of iron oxides. They develop by intensive and long-lasting weathering of the underlying parent rock...
. Many of the populations are small and on road verges. The annual rainfall in these areas is around 300 mm.
Conservation status
Banksia benthamiana is currently classified as Priority Four - Rare: taxa which are considered to have been adequately surveyed and which, while being rare (in Australia), are not currently threatened by any identifiable factors (though this could be argued otherwise in this case). These taxa require monitoring every 5–10 years. it was previously classified as threatened but has been 'downgraded'.Taxonomy
Banksia benthamiana was first described by Charles GardnerCharles Gardner
Charles Austin Gardner was a Western Australian botanist.Born in Lancaster, England on 6 January 1896, he emigrated to Western Australia with his family in 1909....
in 1964 from a January 1940 collection near the town of Dalwallinu. He named it in honour of George Bentham
George Bentham
George Bentham CMG FRS was an English botanist, characterized by Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century".- Formative years :...
(1800–1884), author of Flora Australiensis
Flora Australiensis
Flora Australiensis: a description of the plants of the Australian Territory, more commonly referred to as Flora Australiensis, and also known by its standard abbreviation Fl. Austral., is a seven-volume flora of Australia published between 1863 and 1878 by George Bentham, with the assistance of...
.
It has been traditionally considered to be closely related to B. 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:...
, a larger shrub with larger, more deeply-lobed leaves, bright orange flowers and wider, more rounded follicles. It is probably related also to B. audax
Banksia audax
Banksia audax is a species of shrub in the plant genus Banksia. It occurs over a large area in the central south of Western Australia.-Description:...
, a much smaller species with pubescent-hirsute perianth. Using morphological cladistics, Kevin Thiele
Kevin Thiele
Kevin R. Thiele is curator of the Western Australian Herbarium. His research interests include the systematics of the plant families Proteaceae, Rhamnaceae and Violaceae, and the conservation ecology of grassy woodland ecosystems...
placed it in a group with B. audax and B. laevigata
Banksia laevigata
Banksia laevigata is a species of shrub in the plant genus Banksia. It occurs in Western Australia's semi-arid shrubland from Southern Cross south to the Fitzgerald River National Park. It is composed of two closely related subspecies, B. laevigata subsp. laevigata and B. laevigata...
, based on very small distinctive seedling leaves, and linear pollen presenters. This group was supported in Mast and Givnish’s 2002 molecular study. The position of Banksia ashbyi was unclear in this latter study but it did not appear to be closely related.