| Banksia benthamiana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Banksia benthamiana near Pithara | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Banksia |
| Species: | B. benthamiana |
| Binomial name | |
| Banksia benthamiana | |
Banksia benthamiana is a species of shrub that is endemic to the Southwest of Western Australia. It has hairy, linear leaves, usually with scattered small teeth along the edges, and spikes of orange flowers.
Banksia benthamiana is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 2–4 m (6 ft 7 in – 13 ft 1 in) but does not form a lignotuber. Its bark is roughly flaking and grey and the branchlets are densely covered with rust-coloured hairs. The leaves are linear in shape, mostly 100–250 mm (3.9–9.8 in) long and 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) wide on a petiole 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) long. The sides of the leaves usually have small teeth 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long and 5–20 mm (0.20–0.79 in) apart along one half or more. Both surfaces of the leaves are hairy when young. The flowering spike is borne on a short side branch and is 50–100 mm (2.0–3.9 in) long and about 60 mm (2.4 in) wide when the flowers open. Each flower has a hairy perianth 20–24 mm (0.79–0.94 in) long and a glabrous, curved pistil 23–26 mm (0.91–1.02 in) long. Flowering occurs from late November to January and up to 130 narrow elliptical, smooth, furry follicles 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long, 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) high and wide, develop in each spike. [2] [3] [4] [5]
Banksia benthamiana was first formally described in 1964 by Charles Gardner in the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia . [6] [7] The original type specimens were collected in January 1940 near Dalwallinu. [8] The specific epithet honours George Bentham (1800–1884), author of Flora Australiensis . [9]
This banksia 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 grouping 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. [10]
This banksia is found in scattered populations between Mullewa and Kulja in the Southwest of Western Australia. It grows on plains in shrubland, sometimes as an 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 (12 in). [4] [9]
Banksia benthamiana is currently classified as "Priority Four" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife, [3] meaning that is rare or near threatened. [11]
Volunteers for the 1985 Banksia Atlas reported that moths and birds have been seen pollinating it. [12]
Banksia benthamiana is almost unknown in cultivation and unsuitable for small gardens, but can be grown in a container and is fast growing. A slightly acid deep sand or gravel soil is desirable. [9] Seeds do not require any treatment, and take 19 to 42 days to germinate. [13]
Banksia ashbyi, commonly known as Ashby's banksia, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth, grey bark, deeply serrated, hairy leaves and spikes of bright orange flowers.
Banksia candolleana, commonly known as the propeller banksia, is a species of shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has shiny green, deeply serrated leaves with triangular lobes and spikes of golden yellow flowers on short side branches.
Banksia lindleyana, commonly known as the porcupine banksia, is a species of woody shrub in the genus Banksia of the family Proteaceae. It generally grows as a small shrub to 1 m (3 ft) high with long narrow serrated leaves, and bright yellow oval or round inflorescences. Flowering occurs in late summer, after which time the flower spikes age and turn to brown and then grey, and develop up to 70 follicles. It occurs in the vicinity of Kalbarri, Western Australia. Found on sandy soils, the plant serves as a pollinator for a variety of bird and animal species.
Banksia meisneri, commonly known as Meisner's banksia, is a shrub that is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It has crowded, more or less linear leaves and in winter and spring, spikes of golden brown flowers followed by furry fruit which usually only open after fire.
Banksia occidentalis, commonly known as the red swamp banksia, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to the south coast of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, linear, sparsely serrated leaves, golden flowers in a cylindrical spike, and later up to sixty follicles in each spike.
Banksia pilostylis is a species of shrub that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has hard, fissured bark, narrow wedge-shaped, serrated leaves, pale yellow flowers in cylindrical spikes and elliptical follicles that open when heated in a bushfire.
Banksia pulchella, commonly known as teasel banksia, is a species of small shrub that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has smooth grey bark, linear leaves and golden-brown flowers in short, cylindrical heads and inconspicuous follicles.
Banksia audax is a species of shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has fissured, grey bark, woolly stems, hairy, serrated leaves and golden orange flower spikes.
Banksia micrantha is a species of small shrub that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spreading bush with sharply-pointed linear leaves, pale yellow flower spikes and up to twenty-five follicles surrounded by the remains of the flowers. It was first formally described by Alex George in 1981.
Banksia borealis is a species of sprawling shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has leaves with sharply pointed lobes on each side, between thirty and fifty flowers in a gold-coloured spike and egg-shaped fruit. There are two subspecies occurring in two disjunct areas.
Banksia fasciculata is a species of column-shaped shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has hairy stems, crowded, prickly leaves, yellow flowers and hairy fruit.
Banksia fililoba is a species of shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has pinnatipartite leaves with sharply pointed lobes, heads of up to eighty yellowish flowers and egg-shaped fruit. It mainly grows in kwongan in the south-west of the state.
Banksia idiogenes is a species of tufted shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has hairy stems, deeply pinnatifid leaves, distinctive, scented, red and white flowers in heads of about eighty, later several glabrous, egg-shaped follicles in each head.
Banksia ionthocarpa is a species of shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has short, hairy, prostrate stems, pinnatifid leaves, pinkish purple to orange flower in heads of between forty and sixty at the base of leaves, and egg-shaped follicles with a distinctive tuft of hairs on the end.
Banksia mimica, commonly known as summer honeypot, is a species of prostrate shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has wedge-shaped leaves with sharply-pointed teeth on the sides, yellow flowers in heads of up to fifty and oblong, hairy follicles.
Banksia platycarpa is a species of small shrub that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has broadly linear pinnatipartite leaves, with up to twenty-five sharply pointed lobes on each side, creamy-yellow to orange flowers in heads of up to seventy-five, and egg-shaped follicles.
Banksia plumosa is a species of shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has hairy stems, broadly linear pinnatifid to pinnatipartite leaves with triangular lobes, creamy-yellow flowers in heads of up to eighty, and egg-shaped follicles.
Banksia strictifolia is a species of bushy shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has serrated, linear leaves with sharply-pointed teeth on both sides, creamy yellow flowers in heads of between forty-five and eighty-five, and egg-shaped to more or less spherical follicles.
Banksia subulata, commonly known as the awled honeypot, is a species of bushy, prostrate shrub that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has long linear leaves with the edges turned under, yellowish green flowers in heads of about sixty and more or less spherical follicles.
Banksia trifontinalis is a species of openly-branched shrub that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has broadly linear, coarsely serrated, sharply pointed leaves, pale yellow flowers in heads of about sixty, and oblong to egg-shaped follicles.
