Banksia serratuloides explained

Banksia serratuloides is a species of small shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has linear, pinnatipartite leaves, yellow and pink flowers in heads of about forty and hairy, wrinkled follicles.

Description

Banksia serratuloides is a shrub that typically grows to a height of and forms a lignotuber. It has hairy stems and leaves that are linear, pinnatipartite, long and wide on a petiole long. There are between six and fifteen or between twenty and thirty-three (depending on subspecies) triangular to lance-shaped lobes on each side of the leaves. Between thirty-five and forty yellow flowers are arranged in heads with egg-shaped to lance-shaped, shining brown involucral bracts long at the base of each head. The perianth is long and pink at the base, and the pistil is long and pink. Flowering occurs from July to September and the follicles are elliptical, long, wrinkled and densely hairy.[1]

Taxonomy and naming

This species was first formally described in 1855 by Carl Meissner who gave it the name Dryandra serratuloides and published the description in Hooker's Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Miscellany from specimens collected by James Drummond.[2] [3] The specific epithet (serratuloides) refers to the similarity of this species to species in the genus Serratula.[4]

In 1996, Alex George described two subspecies in the journal Nuytsia:

In 2007 Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele transferred all dryandras to the genus Banksia and renamed the species Banksia serratuloides and the subspecies perissa and serratuloides respectively.[6] [7] The names B. serratuloides subsp. perissa and B. serratuloides subsp. serratuloides are accepted by the Australian Plant Census.[8] [9]

Distribution and habit

Banksia serratuloides grows in kwongan or open shrubland and occurs in two disjunct areas between Eneabba and Mogumber. Subspecies perissa is found between Alexander Morrison National Park, Badgingarra and Boothendarra Hill. Subspecies serratuloides occurs near Gillingarra and Mogumber.

Conservation status

Banksia serratuloides is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife, but both subspecies are listed as "Threatened Flora (Declared Rare Flora — Extant)" by the Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia).

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: George . Alex S. . Flora of Australia . 17B . 1999 . Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra . Canberra . 290–291 . 31 May 2020.
  2. Web site: Dryandra serratuloides. APNI. 31 May 2020.
  3. Meissner . Carl . Hooker . William J. . New Proteaceae of Australia . Hooker's Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Miscellany . 1855 . 7 . 123–124 . 31 May 2020.
  4. Book: Francis Aubie Sharr . Francis Aubie Sharr . Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, Western Australia . 9780958034180 . 306.
  5. George . Alex . New taxa and a new infrageneric classification in Dryandra R.Br. (Proteaceae : Grevilleoideae) . Nuytsia . 1996 . 10 . 3 . 349–351 . 31 May 2020.
  6. Mast . Austin R. . Austin Mast . Kevin . Thiele . Kevin Thiele . 2007 . The transfer of Dryandra R.Br. to Banksia L.f. (Proteaceae) . . 20 . 1 . 63–71 . 10.1071/SB06016.
  7. Web site: Banksia serratuloides. APNI. 31 May 2020.
  8. Web site: Banksia serratuloides subsp. perissa . Australian Plant Census . 31 May 2020.
  9. Web site: Banksia serratuloides subsp. serratuloides . Australian Plant Census . 31 May 2020.