Banksia rosserae
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| Banksia rosserae Olde & Marriott |
Banksia rosserae is a recently described species of Banksia. Endemic to inland Western Australia, it is the only Banksia species to occur in the arid zone. It is named in honour of Celia Rosser, an acclaimed botanical artist whose three-volume monograph The Banksias contains paintings of all 76 Banksia species recognised at the time of publication.
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[edit] Description
Banksia rosserae grows as a multi-stemmed shrub 2½ to three metres high, and three to four metres wide. The trunks are from ten to fifteen centimetres in diameter. Unusually for Banksia species, the grey bark is papery and flaky. The leaves are dark green, five to twelve centimetres long and five to twelve millimetres wide, with serrated margins. Flowers are yellow and occur in Banksia's distinctive flower spikes; these are approximately spherical, with a diameter of about five centimetres. The "cones" have a hairy appearance due to the retention of old flower parts. They typically contain from twelve to twenty follicles, most of which do not open until stimulated to do so by fire.
[edit] Distribution
Banksia rosserae is known only from an area south-south-east of Mount Magnet in inland Western Australia. The area is around 200 kilometres from where other Banksia species are known to occur, representing a "significant geographic disjunction" for the genus. Furthermore, its distribution is entirely within the arid zone, a habitat not previously thought to support Banksia species.
Banksia rosserae was first discovered by John Cullen in September 2000, on Kirkalocka, a sheep station about 50 kilometres south of Mount Magnet. Originally only two plants were found, sitting on the top of an orange sand dune. The following year, Peter Olde collected specimens and published a description of the species. In January 2002, a search for more plants located a clump of six plants about 20 kilometres from the original two, and a further 18 plants on crown land next to Kirkalocka Station. Although the population is extremely small, the species has not been declared rare and threatened because: there are several populations, there is a large population on crown land (now being considered for a conservation reserve), and the plants are healthy and appear to resprout vigorously after fire.
[edit] Taxonomy
Banksia rosserae's relationship to other banksias is uncertain. It shares some features, such as its flakey trunk, with Banksia laevigata. Its upside down flowers suggest a relationship with the series tetragonae,
[edit] Cultivation
Banksia rosserae is poorly known in cultivation as yet, though should fare well with good drainage and a Mediterranean climate.
[edit] References
- Olde, Peter M. and Marriott, Neil R. (2002). "One new Banksia and two new Grevillea species (Proteaceae: Grevilleoideae) from Western Australia" (pdf). Nuytsia 15 (1): 85–99.
- Collins, Kevin (2003). "B. rosserae - a significant new discovery" (pdf). ASGAP Banksia Study Group Newsletter 4 (3): 2–4.
[edit] External links
- Banksia rosserae at Florabase, Department of Environment and Conservation, Western Australia.
