Banksia tricuspis

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Lesueur banksia
Banksia tricuspis 2 Wanneroo email.jpg
Roadside planting in Wanneroo
Status DECF P4.svg
Priority Four — Rare Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Banksia
Subgenus: Banksia subg. Banksia
Section: Banksia sect. Oncostylis
Series: Banksia ser. Tricuspidae
A.S.George
Species:
B. tricuspis
Binomial name
Banksia tricuspis

Banksia tricuspis, commonly known as Lesueur banksia or pine banksia, is a plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a stunted tree or shrub with narrow leaves and cylindrical spikes of golden-coloured flowers and it occurs in a geographic range of just 15 square kilometres near Jurien.

Contents

Description

Banksia tricuspis is a shrub or small tree, often with an irregular shape, which grows to a height of 4 m (10 ft) with thick, grey, wrinkled, fire-resistant bark on its trunk. New growth is produced in spring and is pale greenish-brown. The leaves are mostly crowded near the ends of the branches, linear in shape, 50–130 mm (2–5 in) long 1.0–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) wide with the edges rolled under and end in three pointed teeth. The upper surface of the leaves is covered with soft hairs at first but becomes glabrous as the leaves mature. The lower surface is woolly. [2]

As with many other members of the genus, inflorescences or flower spikes may contain hundreds or thousands of individual flowers, each of which consists of a tube-shaped perianth made up of four joined tepals, and one long wiry style. In this species the spike is on the end of a branch and is 70–150 mm (3–6 in) long and 70–90 mm (3–4 in) wide when the flowers open. Each perianth is golden-yellow, 23–26 mm (0.9–1 in) long, hairy on the outside but glabrous inside. Flowering occurs from late March to July. Only up to 35 of the flowers on a spike will form seeds and these are contained in large, woody fruit called follicles. In B. tricuspis, these protrude from the spike and are elliptic in shape, 8–16 mm (0.3–0.6 in) high and 15–28 mm (0.6–1 in) wide, glabrous and slightly rough. The fruit remain closed until the plant is heated during a fire, after which one or two winged seeds are released from each follicle. [2]

B. tricuspis habit in Lesueur National Park Banksia tricuspis (habit).jpg
B. tricuspis habit in Lesueur National Park
B. tricuspis leaves Banksia tricuspis (foliage).jpg
B. tricuspis leaves
B. tricuspis young inflorescence Banksia tricuspis (fower spike).jpg
B. tricuspis young inflorescence

Taxonomy and naming

Banksia tricuspis was first formally described by Carl Meissner in 1855 from specimens collected by James Drummond and the description was published in Hooker's Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Miscellany . [3] [4] The specific epithet (tricuspis) is a Latin word meaning "having three points", [5] referring to the three teeth on the leaf tips. [2]

This species is placed alone in series Banksia ser. Tricuspidae. [6]

Distribution and habitat

This banksia only occurs around Mount Lesueur in Lesueur National Park in the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region. [7] [8] It grows in rocky lateritic soil in shrubland. [2]

Ecology

This plant is fire tolerant and new growth sprouts from epicormic buds after fire. There is evidence that black cockatoos (genus Calyptorhynchus) increase the rate of seed set by selectively destroying borers. [9]

Conservation

Banksia tricuspis is classified as "Priority Four" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife, [7] meaning that is rare or near threatened. [10] It is only known from an area of 15 km2 (6 sq mi). [11]

Use in horticulture

This is a slow-growing plant and may take 10 years to flower for the first time. The foliage is sparse except for at the branch tips and the flower spikes and old fruit are attractive. It grows best in sandy or rocky soil in a sunny location. [2] Seeds do not require any treatment, and take 18 to 57 days to germinate. [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Banksia aculeata</i> Shrub of the family Proteaceae native to the southwest of Western Australia.

Banksia aculeata, commonly known as prickly banksia, is a species of plant of the family Proteaceae native to the Stirling Range in the southwest of Western Australia. A shrub up to 2 m (7 ft) tall, it has dense foliage and leaves with very prickly serrated margins. Its unusual pinkish, pendent (hanging) flower spikes, known as inflorescences, are generally hidden in the foliage and appear during the early summer. Although it was collected by the naturalist James Drummond in the 1840s, Banksia aculeata was not formally described until 1981, by Alex George in his monograph of the genus.

<i>Banksia baueri</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae native to Western Australia

Banksia baueri, commonly known as the woolly banksia, is a species of shrub that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has serrated leaves and a distinctively large and hairy looking inflorescence with cream, yellow or brown flowers, and hairy fruit.

<i>Banksia benthamiana</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to the south-west of Western Australia

Banksia benthamiana is a species of shrub that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has hairy, linear leaves, usually with scattered small teeth along the edges, and spikes of orange flowers.

<i>Banksia dryandroides</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae from the south coast of Western Australia

Banksia dryandroides, the dryandra-leaved banksia, is a species of small shrub in the plant genus Banksia. The Noongar peoples know the tree as manyat. It occurs in shrubland, woodland and kwongan on the south coast of Western Australia between Narrikup and Beaufort Inlet. The species is placed alone in series B. ser. Dryandroideae.

<i>Banksia lemanniana</i> Shrub of the family Proteaceae native to Western Australia

Banksia lemanniana, the yellow lantern banksia or Lemann's banksia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae, native to Western Australia. It generally grows as an open woody shrub or small tree to 5 m (16 ft) high, with stiff serrated leaves and unusual hanging inflorescences. Flowering occurs over summer, the greenish buds developing into oval flower spikes before turning grey and developing the characteristic large woody follicles. It occurs within and just east of the Fitzgerald River National Park on the southern coast of the state. B. lemanniana is killed by bushfire and regenerates from seed.

<i>Banksia lindleyana</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae from Western Australia

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.

<i>Banksia nutans</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae native to the south coast of Western Australia

Banksia nutans, commonly known as nodding banksia, is a species of shrub native to the south coast of Western Australia in the genus Banksia. Growing to a metre (3 ft) tall, it has pale blue-green fine-leaved foliage and unusual purple-brown inflorescences which hang upside down rather than grow upright like most other banksias.

<i>Banksia telmatiaea</i> Australian shrub that grows in marshes and swamps

Banksia telmatiaea, commonly known as swamp fox banksia or rarely marsh banksia, is a shrub that grows in marshes and swamps along the lower west coast of Australia. It grows as an upright bush up to 2 metres tall, with narrow leaves and a pale brown flower spike, which can produce profuse quantities of nectar. First collected in the 1840s, it was not published as a separate species until 1981; as with several other similar species it was previously included in B. sphaerocarpa.

<i>Banksia violacea</i> Species of plant

Banksia violacea, commonly known as violet banksia, is a species of shrub or tree in the plant genus Banksia. It generally grows as a small shrub to 1.5 m (5 ft) high with fine narrow leaves, and is best known for its unusually coloured dark purple-violet inflorescences. The colour of the inflorescences, short leaves, and flattened follicles which are sticky when young, help identify this species from others in the field. It is found in low shrubland in southern regions of Western Australia from Esperance in the east to Narrogin in the west, growing exclusively in sandy soils.

<i>Banksia armata</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to Western Australia

Banksia armata, commonly known as prickly dryandra, is a species of often sprawling shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has deeply serrated leaves with sharply pointed lobes and spikes of about 45 to 70 yellow flowers.

Banksia brunnea is a species of low, bushy shrub that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has dark green pinnatisect leaves, heads of up to seventy pink and brownish flowers and glabrous follicles in the fruiting head.

<i>Banksia cirsioides</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteacea endemic to Western Australia

Banksia cirsioides is a species of shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has pinnatisect leaves with between six and ten lobes on each side and hairy heads of yellow and pink flowers.

<i>Banksia comosa</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to Western Australia

Banksia comosa, commonly known as Wongan dryandra, is a species of shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has linear leaves with widely spaced, sharply pointed serrations, heads of yellow flowers and glabrous fruit.

<i>Banksia bella</i> Species of shrub endemic to Western Australia

Banksia bella, commonly known as the Wongan dryandra, is a species of dense shrub that is endemic to a restricted area of Western Australia. It has narrow, deeply serrated leaves covered with white hairs on the lower surface, heads of yellow flowers and few follicles in the fruiting head.

<i>Banksia sclerophylla</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to the south-west of Western Australia

Banksia sclerophylla is a species of shrub that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has spreading stems, linear, pinnatipid leaves with triangular lobes on the sides, yellow flowers in heads of between forty and seventy, and elliptical follicles.

<i>Banksia shuttleworthiana</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to Western Australia

Banksia shuttleworthiana, commonly known as bearded dryandra, is a species of low, spreading shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has thin, woolly-hairy stems, linear pinnatisect leaves, creamy brown to purplish flowers in heads of about forty and later, only a few egg-shaped follicles in each head.

<i>Banksia splendida</i> Species of shrub in the genus Banksia native to Western Australia

Banksia splendida, commonly known as shaggy dryandra, is a species of shrub that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has sharply-pointed linear leaves that are woolly on the lower surface, cream-coloured and maroon or yellow flowers in heads of between 65 and 115, and later up to eight egg-shaped follicles in each head.

<i>Banksia stenoprion</i> Species of shrub in the genus Banksia native to Western Australia

Banksia stenoprion is a species of prostrate shrub that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has short, underground stems, pinnatisect leaves with triangular lobes, golden, mauve or purple flowers in heads of up to ninety, and egg-shaped follicles.

Banksia tortifolia is a small, spreading, prostrate shrub that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has short underground stems, pinnatipartite leaves with sharply-pointed, linear lobes on each side, greenish-cream, yellow and pink flowers in heads of about eighty, and glabrous, egg-shaped follicles.

<i>Banksia tridentata</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to Western Australia

Banksia tridentata, commonly known as yellow honeypot, is a low-growing shrub that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has narrow egg-shaped leaves with a sharp point on the tip, greenish yellow flowers in heads of between 85 and 125, and elliptical to egg-shaped follicles.

References

  1. "Banksia tricuspis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 George, Alex S. (1987). The Banksia Book (Second Edition). Kenthurst, New South Wales: Kangaroo Press (in association with the Society for Growing Australian Plants). ISBN   0-86417-006-8.
  3. "Banksia tricuspis". APNI. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  4. Meissner, Carl (1855). "New Proteaceae of Australia". Hooker's Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Miscellany. 7: 118. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  5. Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles. "creber". A Latin Dictionary. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  6. Liber, Cas (2004). "Banksia tricuspis – evidence for placement in Abietinae (?)" (PDF). Banksia Study Group Newsletter. 6 (1). Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Banksia tricuspis". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  8. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 468. ISBN   0646402439.
  9. Lamont, Byron B.; Enright, Neal J.; Witkowski, E. T. F.; Groeneveld, J. (2007). "Conservation biology of banksias: insights from natural history to simulation modelling". Australian Journal of Botany. 55 (3): 280–292. doi:10.1071/BT06024.
  10. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  11. 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.
  12. Sweedman, Luke; Merritt, David (2006). Australian seeds: a guide to their collection, identification and biology. CSIRO Publishing. p. 203. ISBN   0-643-09298-6.