Banksia rosserae
| Banksia rosserae | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Banksia |
| Species: | B. rosserae |
| Binomial name | |
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Banksia rosserae Olde & Marriott |
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Banksia rosserae is a recently described species of Banksia. Endemic to inland Western Australia, it is the only Banksia species to occur solely within the arid zone.
B. rosserae grows as a multi-stemmed shrub 2.5 to 3 metres (8.2 to 9.8 ft) high, and 3 to 4 metres (9.8 to 13.1 ft) wide. The trunks are from 10 to 15 centimetres (3.9 to 5.9 in) in diameter. Unusually for Banksia species, the grey bark is papery and flaky. The leaves are dark green, 5 to 12 centimetres (2.0 to 4.7 in) long and 5 to 12 millimetres (0.20 to 0.47 in) wide, with serrated margins. Flowers are yellow and occur in Banksia's distinctive flower spikes; these are approximately spherical, with a diameter of about 5 centimetres (2 in). 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.
Reports of who first discovered B. rosserae are somewhat contradictory. Peter Olde and Neil Marriott acknowledge Ann Pilkington of Kirkalocka, "who discovered Banksia rosserae and who drew it to our attention through various third parties." However, Kevin Collins states that it was first discovered in September 2000 by a Grevillea enthusiast named John Cullen. According to Collins, Cullen had visited Kirkalocka in search of an undescribed Grevillea species mentioned in the writings of Charles Gardner (now published as G. kirkalocka); in addition to finding the Grevillea, he also found two B. rosserae plants growing on the top of an orange sand dune.
Irrespective of who first discovered it, its presence in the area was reported to Peter Olde and Neil Marriott. In 2001, Olde, Marriott and Keith Alcock visited the area in search of the undescribed Grevillea species. While there, they also searched for the Banksia, and eventually Alcock located two specimens growing on top of a dune. The plants were clearly an undescribed species, so specimens were collected so that a formal description of the species could be published. The following year it was published as Banksia rosserae Olde & Marriott. The name honours Celia Rosser, an illustrator, whose three-volume monograph The Banksias has been acclaimed as one of 20th century's great works of botanical illustration.
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Wikipedia