Banksia archaeocarpa
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Extinct (fossil)
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| Banksia archaeocarpa McNamara & Scott |
Banksia archaeocarpa is an extinct species of tree or shrub, known only from a fossil Banksia "cone" recovered from middle Eocene rocks, known as the Merlinleigh Sandstone, in the Kennedy Range in Western Australia. Described in 1983 by Ken McNamara, it closely resembles the extant B. attenuata (Candlestick Banksia). Some leaves resembling Banksia brownii (Feather-leaved Banksia) were discovered at the same site but it is unclear whether or not they were from the same plant.[1]
A cast of the fossil cone is on display at the Western Australian Museum.
Today, the Kennedy Range lies far to the north of the distribution of most banksias. The only Banksia species found there is B. ashbyi (Ashby's Banksia), the northernmost of all western banksias.
[edit] References
- ^ McNamara, K. J. and J. K. Scott (1983). "A new species of Banksia (Proteaceae) from the Eocene Merlinleigh Sandstone of the Kennedy Range, Western Australia". Alcheringa 7: 185-193.
- Mclaughlin, S. and Ken J. McNamara (2001). Ancient Floras of Western Australia. Western Australian Museum. ISBN 0-7307-2692-4.
