Banksia candolleana

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Propeller Banksia
Banksia candolleana, near Badgingarra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Banksia
Species: B. candolleana
Binomial name
Banksia candolleana
Meisn.
Synonyms

Sirmuellera candolleana (Meisn.) Kuntze

Banksia candolleana - MHNT

The Propeller Banksia (Banksia candolleana) is a species of shrub in the plant genus Banksia. It occurs in sandplain country north of Gingin, Western Australia.

Description

Encountered as a many-branched spreading shrub 0.5–1.3 m (20–50 in) high and 2.5 m (8 ft) wide, Banksia candolleana has linear leaves 15–40 cm (6–16 in) long and 0.6-2 cm wide. The leaves are green and shiny with deep triangular lobed margins. Appearing from April to July (autumn to winter), the squat inflorescences arise on short lateral branchlets and are golden yellow in colour. Ovoid in shape, they are 5.5–7.5 cm wide. As the flower spikes age, they turn to grey and 1–5 large follicles develop.[1]

Taxonomy

Banksia candolleana was first described by Swiss botanist Carl Meissner in 1855, after being collected by James Drummond.[2] Its species name honours Meissner's countryman Augustin Pyramus de Candolle.

Distribution and habitat

Banksia candolleana is found from Arrowsmith south to Gingin on sandplains north of Perth. The annual rainfall is 600–700 mm.[1]

Ecology

Banksia candolleana regenerates from a woody lignotuber after bushfire.[1] Some large shrubs have been estimated at 1,000 years old.[3] The white-tailed dunnart ( Sminthopsis granulipes) has been recorded visiting flowerheads, though whether it is an effective pollinator is unknown.[4] Ants and bees, including the European Honeybee, have been recorded visiting flower spikes.[5]

Cultivation

Banksia candolleana is slow growing in cultivation and may take up to 10 years to flower from seed. It grows readily in well-drained soils in Mediterranean climates,[1] but does not do well in climates of higher humidity on the east coast of Australia. Seeds do not require any treatment, and take 22 to 35 days to germinate.[6]


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 George, Alex S. (1996). The Banksia Book (3rd ed.). Kenthurst, New South Wales: Kangaroo Press. pp. 110–12. ISBN 0-86417-818-2. 
  2. "Banksia candolleana Meisn.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. 
  3. Tianhua He, Byron B. Lamont, Katherine S. Downes (2011). "Banksia born to burn". New Phytologist. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03663.x. 
  4. Goldingay, Ross L. (2000). "Small Dasyurid Marsupials – are they Effective Pollinators?". Australian Journal of Zoology 48 (5): 597–606. doi:10.1071/ZO00015. 
  5. 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.  pp. 72–73.
  6. Sweedman, Luke; et al. (2006). Australian seeds: a guide to their collection, identification and biology. CSIRO Publishing. p. 202. ISBN 0-643-09298-6. 
  • George, Alex S. (1981). "The Genus Banksia L.f. (Proteaceae)". Nuytsia 3 (3): 239–473. 
  • George, Alex (1999). "Banksia". In Wilson, Annette (ed.). Flora of Australia: Volume 17B: Proteaceae 3: Hakea to Dryandra. CSIRO Publishing / Australian Biological Resources Study. pp. 175–251. ISBN 0-643-06454-0. 

External links


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