Banksia acanthopoda
Encyclopedia
Banksia acanthopoda is a species of shrub
in the Proteaceae
family. It grows as a small spreading shrub to 2 m (7 ft) high and has prickly leaves and yellow composite flower heads, called inflorescence
s, composed of 50 to 60 individual yellow flowers. Endemic to Western Australia
, it occurs only in a few populations in the vicinities of Woodanilling
, Katanning
and Darkan
; because of its rarity, it is classed as "Priority Two" conservation flora by Western Australia's Department of Environment and Conservation.
The botanist Alex George
first described this species in 1996, naming it Dryandra acanthopoda. It was renamed to its current name in 2007, when all Dryandra species were transferred to the genus Banksia
. It is little known in cultivation and its sensitivity to dieback is unclear (although highly likely).
, sharply serrated leaf margins, and an acute leaf tip. The lamina is dark-green above, but white and hairy beneath. Leaves range from 5 to 13 cm (2–5 in) in length, and 10 to 15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) in width, on a petiole up to 15 mm (0.6 in) long.
Inflorescence
s occur on short lateral branches, and consist of 50 to 60 yellow flowers packed densely together into a dome-shaped head
up to four centimetres (1½ in) in diameter, surrounded by short involucral bracts. As with other Banksia species, each flower comprises a perianth
of four united tepal
s, with a single anther on a short filament attached near the tip; and a single pistil. In B. acanthopoda both perianth and pistil are yellow in colour; the perianth is from 26 to 30 mm long, and the pistil a few millimetres longer. The fruiting structure is a woody dome firmly embedded with up to six light brown follicles
, each containing one or two seeds.
B. acanthopoda resembles B. hewardiana
but has smaller leaves that are sticky when young. Its flower heads are similar to that of B. squarrosa
, but its perianths and pistils are straight rather than curved, and longer.
and Kwobrup
on 21 December 1964, a specimen collected by Alex George
west of Woodanilling
on 26 July 1986, a specimen collected by Ray Garstone north of Woodanilling on 7 October 1986, and a specimen collected by Ken Newbey
east of Katanning. George's specimen was recognised as belonging to an undescribed species, and this species was referred to by the phrase name
"Dryandra sp. 1 (A.S. George 16647)", until 1996, when George formally published it as Dryandra acanthopoda. The specific name comes from the Ancient Greek
acantha ("thorn" or "prickle") and podos ("foot"), in reference to the spines on the petiole.
George placed B. acanthopoda in genus Dryandra, subgenus
Dryandra
, series
Armatae
, remarking that its closest relative is Dryandra polycephala (now Banksia polycephala
). Its placement within George's taxonomic arrangement of Dryandra
, with 1999 and 2005 amendments, may be summarised as follows:
This arrangement remained current until 2007, when botanists Austin Mast
and Kevin Thiele
transferred Dryandra into Banksia. They also published B. subgenus Spathulatae
for the Banksia taxa having spoon-shaped cotyledon
s, thus redefining the subgenus Banksia
as comprising those that do not. They were not ready, however, to tender an infrageneric arrangement encompassing Dryandra, so as an interim measure they transferred Dryandra into Banksia at series
rank. This minimised the nomenclatural disruption of the transfer, but also caused George's rich infrageneric arrangement to be set aside. Thus under the interim arrangements implemented by Mast and Thiele, B. acanthopoda is placed in B. subg. Banksia
, ser. Dryandra.
There are only a few small populations. Until 1999 it was thought to occur only in the Avon Wheatbelt
biogeographic
region, in the vicinity of Woodanilling and Katanning; since then, a population has been found in the Jarrah Forest
region, south of Darkan
.
It grows in tall closed kwongan
heath
in lateritic
soils, sometimes with a sparse overstorey of wandoo (Eucalyptus wandoo
) or Drummond's gum (E. drummondii
). Other B. ser. Dryandra species that co-occur with B. acanthopoda include B. stuposa
, B. armata var. ignicida
and B. nobilis
. The area has a mean temperature range of 9 to 22°C (48–72°F), with up to 40 days above 30°C (86°F), and a mean annual rainfall of 400 to 500 mm (15.7–19.7 in).
results in both direct plant loss and population fragmentation; fragmentation in turn affects genetic diversity; grazing pressure
affects plant health, as does competition from exotic weeds; and changes to the fire regime
have the potential to eliminate entire generations. Further west, in the Jarrah Forest region, pathogen
s constitute the only identified threat to the species.
Information on the species' susceptibility to dieback is problematic: the only information available is from the 2006 report Management of Phytophthora cinnamomi for Biodiversity Conservation in Australia, which states that D. acanthopoda is "highly susceptible"; but this claim is sourced to a 1994 paper that asserts it not for B. acanthopoda but for the species then known as "Dryandra sp. Kamballup (M. Pieroni 20.9.88)", now B. ionthocarpa
.
Investigations into long-term seed storage have shown B. acanthopoda to store well under standard genebank storage conditions. After six years of storage in these conditions, 90% of seeds were successfully germinated, a rate similar to that of fresh seed.
, and at the Royal Botanic Gardens
in Cranbourne
, Melbourne
. It is a sprawling and untidy shrub, but its habit can be improved by pruning. Its prominent yellow flower heads appear from July to October in cultivation, and have potential for use in the cut flower industry
. It prefers a well-drained soil in full sun or light shade, and will tolerate dry conditions once established. Propagation is by seed; seeds take three to five weeks to germinate, and have a germination rate of 80 to 90 percent.
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
in the Proteaceae
Proteaceae
Proteaceae is a family of flowering plants distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae they make up the order Proteales. Well known genera include Protea, Banksia, Embothrium, Grevillea,...
family. It grows as a small spreading shrub to 2 m (7 ft) high and has prickly leaves and yellow composite flower heads, called inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s, composed of 50 to 60 individual yellow flowers. Endemic to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, it occurs only in a few populations in the vicinities of Woodanilling
Woodanilling, Western Australia
Woodanilling is a small town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, 254 km south of Perth on the Great Southern Highway, 24 km from Katanning and 30 km from Wagin....
, Katanning
Katanning, Western Australia
Katanning is a town located 277 km south east of Perth, Western Australia on the Great Southern Highway. At the 2006 census, Katanning had a population of 3,808.-History:...
and Darkan
Darkan, Western Australia
Darkan is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, between Collie and the Albany Highway on the Coalfields Road. It is also the seat of the Shire of West Arthur. At the 2006 census, Darkan had a population of 203.-History:...
; because of its rarity, it is classed as "Priority Two" conservation flora by Western Australia's Department of Environment and Conservation.
The botanist Alex George
Alex George
Alexander Segger George is a Western Australian botanist. He is the authority on the plant genera Banksia and Dryandra...
first described this species in 1996, naming it Dryandra acanthopoda. It was renamed to its current name in 2007, when all Dryandra species were transferred to the genus Banksia
Banksia
Banksia is a genus of around 170 species in the plant family Proteaceae. These Australian wildflowers and popular garden plants are easily recognised by their characteristic flower spikes and fruiting "cones" and heads. When it comes to size, banksias range from prostrate woody shrubs to trees up...
. It is little known in cultivation and its sensitivity to dieback is unclear (although highly likely).
Description
B. acanthopoda grows as a spreading shrub up to 2 m (7 ft) high. Its stems are matted with short soft hairs when young, but these are soon lost. Leaves are long, thin and curved, with five to ten spines on the petiolePetiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
, sharply serrated leaf margins, and an acute leaf tip. The lamina is dark-green above, but white and hairy beneath. Leaves range from 5 to 13 cm (2–5 in) in length, and 10 to 15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) in width, on a petiole up to 15 mm (0.6 in) long.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s occur on short lateral branches, and consist of 50 to 60 yellow flowers packed densely together into a dome-shaped head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
up to four centimetres (1½ in) in diameter, surrounded by short involucral bracts. As with other Banksia species, each flower comprises a perianth
Perianth
The term perianth has two similar but separate meanings in botany:* In flowering plants, the perianth are the outer, sterile whorls of a flower...
of four united tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s, with a single anther on a short filament attached near the tip; and a single pistil. In B. acanthopoda both perianth and pistil are yellow in colour; the perianth is from 26 to 30 mm long, and the pistil a few millimetres longer. The fruiting structure is a woody dome firmly embedded with up to six light brown follicles
Follicle (fruit)
In botany, a follicle is a dry unilocular many-seeded fruit formed from one carpel and dehiscing by the ventral suture in order to release seeds, such as in larkspur, magnolia, banksia, peony and milkweed....
, each containing one or two seeds.
B. acanthopoda resembles B. hewardiana
Banksia hewardiana
Banksia hewardiana is a shrub endemic to Western Australia. It was first published as Dryandra hewardiana by Carl Meissner in 1856. In 1870, George Bentham published what he held to be a closely related species under the name Dryandra patens, but in 1999 Alex George declared this a synonym of...
but has smaller leaves that are sticky when young. Its flower heads are similar to that of B. squarrosa
Banksia squarrosa
Banksia squarrosa, commonly known as Pingle, is a shrub endemic to Western Australia.-Taxonomy:Specimens of B. squarrosa were first collected from near King George Sound in 1829 by William Baxter, and published by Robert Brown as Dryandra squarrosa the following year...
, but its perianths and pistils are straight rather than curved, and longer.
Taxonomy
Early collections of B. acanthopoda include a specimen collected by F. W. Humphreys between KatanningKatanning, Western Australia
Katanning is a town located 277 km south east of Perth, Western Australia on the Great Southern Highway. At the 2006 census, Katanning had a population of 3,808.-History:...
and Kwobrup
Kwobrup, Western Australia
Kwobrup is a small town in the Shire of Kent, in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. It is located on the Katanning to Nyabing branch line. The Kwobrup Reserve, north of the town, forms part of the Kwobrup-Badgebup Important Bird Area....
on 21 December 1964, a specimen collected by Alex George
Alex George
Alexander Segger George is a Western Australian botanist. He is the authority on the plant genera Banksia and Dryandra...
west of Woodanilling
Woodanilling, Western Australia
Woodanilling is a small town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, 254 km south of Perth on the Great Southern Highway, 24 km from Katanning and 30 km from Wagin....
on 26 July 1986, a specimen collected by Ray Garstone north of Woodanilling on 7 October 1986, and a specimen collected by Ken Newbey
Kenneth Newbey
Kenneth Raymond Newbey was a plant ecologist, botanical collector and horticulturist. Born in Katanning, Western Australia, he collected over 12000 specimens, from the Albany-Esperance, wheatbelt, goldfields and Pilbara regions of Western Australia...
east of Katanning. George's specimen was recognised as belonging to an undescribed species, and this species was referred to by the phrase name
Phrase name
In Australian botany, the term phrase name is used for an informal name given to a plant taxon that has not yet been given a formal scientific name. The term was adopted in 1992 by the Australian Herbarium Information Systems Committee...
"Dryandra sp. 1 (A.S. George 16647)", until 1996, when George formally published it as Dryandra acanthopoda. The specific name comes from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
acantha ("thorn" or "prickle") and podos ("foot"), in reference to the spines on the petiole.
George placed B. acanthopoda in genus Dryandra, subgenus
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
Dryandra
Dryandra subg. Dryandra
Dryandra subg. Dryandra is an obsolete series within the former genus Dryandra . It was first published at sectional rank as Dryandra verae in 1830, before being renamed Eudryandra in 1847, the replaced by the autonym at subgenus rank in 1996...
, series
Series (botany)
Series is a low-level taxonomic rank below that of section but above that of species.In botany, a series is a subdivision of a genus...
Armatae
Dryandra ser. Armatae
Dryandra ser. Armatae is an obsolete series within the former genus Dryandra . It was first published by George Bentham in 1870, and was given a new circumscription by Alex George in 1996, but was ultimately discarded in 2007 when Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele sunk Dryandra into Banksia.-According...
, remarking that its closest relative is Dryandra polycephala (now Banksia polycephala
Banksia polycephala
Banksia polycephala, commonly known as Many-headed Dryandra, is a shrub endemic to Western Australia. It was known as Dryandra polycephala until 2007, when all Dryandra species were transferred to Banksia by Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele.-External links:...
). Its placement within George's taxonomic arrangement of Dryandra
George's taxonomic arrangement of Dryandra
Alex George's taxonomic arrangement of Dryandra was the first modern-day arrangement of that taxon. First published in Nuytsia in 1996, it superseded the arrangement of George Bentham, which had stood for over a hundred years; it would later form the basis for George's 1999 treatment of Dryandra...
, with 1999 and 2005 amendments, may be summarised as follows:
- Dryandra (now Banksia ser. Dryandra)
- D. subg. DryandraDryandra subg. DryandraDryandra subg. Dryandra is an obsolete series within the former genus Dryandra . It was first published at sectional rank as Dryandra verae in 1830, before being renamed Eudryandra in 1847, the replaced by the autonym at subgenus rank in 1996...
- D. ser. FloribundaeDryandra ser. FloribundaeDryandra ser. Floribundae is an obsolete series within the former genus Dryandra . It was first published by George Bentham in 1870, and was given a new circumscription by Alex George in 1996, but was ultimately discarded in 2007 when Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele sunk Dryandra into...
(1 species, 4 varieties) - D. ser. ArmataeDryandra ser. ArmataeDryandra ser. Armatae is an obsolete series within the former genus Dryandra . It was first published by George Bentham in 1870, and was given a new circumscription by Alex George in 1996, but was ultimately discarded in 2007 when Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele sunk Dryandra into Banksia.-According...
- D. cuneata (now B. obovataBanksia obovataBanksia obovata, commonly known as Wedge-leaved Dryandra, is a shrub endemic to Western Australia.It was known as Dryandra cuneata until 2007, when all Dryandra species were transferred to Banksia by Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele...
) - D. fuscobractea (now B. fuscobracteaBanksia fuscobracteaBanksia fuscobractea is a shrub endemic to Western Australia....
) - D. armata (now B. armataBanksia armataBanksia armata, commonly known as Prickly Dryandra, is a shrub endemic to Western Australia.-Description:B. armata grows as a spreading or upright shrub, up to three metres in height. It has deeply serrated leaves. Its inflorescences are usually bright yellow, but may be pink.-Distribution and...
) (2 varieties) - D. prionotes (now B. prionophyllaBanksia prionophyllaBanksia prionophylla is a shrub endemic to Western Australia. Known only from a single population of around 70 plants in a remote part of Western Australia, it is considered rare but not endangered...
- D. arborea (now B. arboreaBanksia arboreaBanksia arborea, commonly known as Yilgarn Dryandra, is a plant endemic to Western Australia, notable as it is the only dryandra to grow to tree-like proportions...
) - D. hirsuta (now B. hirtaBanksia hirtaBanksia hirta is a shrub endemic to Western Australia.It was known as Dryandra hirsuta until 2007, when all Dryandra species were transferred to Banksia by Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele...
) - D. pallida (now B. pallidaBanksia pallidaBanksia pallida is a shrub endemic to Western Australia....
) - D. purdieana (now B. purdieanaBanksia purdieanaBanksia purdieana is a shrub endemic to Western Australia....
) - D. xylothemelia (now B. xylothemeliaBanksia xylothemeliaBanksia xylothemelia is a sprawling woody shrub of the Proteaceae family endemic to southern Western Australia, one of the many species commonly known as dryandras and until recently called Dryandra xylothemelia...
) - D. cirsioides (now B. cirsioidesBanksia cirsioidesBanksia cirsioides is a shrub endemic to Western Australia. It was known as Dryandra cirsioides until 2007, when all Dryandra species were transferred to Banksia by Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele.-Description:...
) - D. acanthopoda (now B. acanthopoda)
- D. squarrosa (now B. squarrosaBanksia squarrosaBanksia squarrosa, commonly known as Pingle, is a shrub endemic to Western Australia.-Taxonomy:Specimens of B. squarrosa were first collected from near King George Sound in 1829 by William Baxter, and published by Robert Brown as Dryandra squarrosa the following year...
) (2 subspecies) - D. hewardiana (now B. hewardianaBanksia hewardianaBanksia hewardiana is a shrub endemic to Western Australia. It was first published as Dryandra hewardiana by Carl Meissner in 1856. In 1870, George Bentham published what he held to be a closely related species under the name Dryandra patens, but in 1999 Alex George declared this a synonym of...
) - D. wonganensis (now B. wonganensisBanksia wonganensisBanksia wonganensis is a large shrub endemic to Western Australia that, until 2007, was previously known as Dryandra wonganensis. It occurs within a small area in the vicinity of Wongan Hills. It grows on lateritic soils in open woodland or amongst dense shrub...
) - D. trifontinalis (now B. trifontinalisBanksia trifontinalisBanksia trifontinalis, commonly known as Three Springs Dryandra, is a shrub endemic to Western Australia.-Description:It grows as an openly branched shrub, and can reach up to two metres high. It has long, narrow, serrated leaves, and a yellow inflorescence.-Taxonomy:The type specimen was collected...
) - D. stricta (now B. strictifoliaBanksia strictifoliaBanksia strictifolia is a shrub endemic to Western Australia.It was known as Dryandra stricta until 2007, when all Dryandra species were transferred to Banksia by Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele. As the name Banksia stricta had already been published in reference to the plant now known as Pimelea...
) - D. echinata (now B. echinataBanksia echinataBanksia echinata is a shrub endemic to Western Australia....
) - D. polycephala (now B. polycephalaBanksia polycephalaBanksia polycephala, commonly known as Many-headed Dryandra, is a shrub endemic to Western Australia. It was known as Dryandra polycephala until 2007, when all Dryandra species were transferred to Banksia by Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele.-External links:...
) - D. subpinnatifida (now B. subpinnatifidaBanksia subpinnatifidaBanksia subpinnatifida is a shrub endemic to Western Australia....
) (2 varieties) - D. longifolia (now B. prolataBanksia prolataBanksia prolata is a shrub endemic to Western Australia.It was known as Dryandra longifolia until 2007, when all Dryandra species were transferred to Banksia by Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele...
) (3 subspecies) - D. borealis (now B. borealisBanksia borealisBanksia borealis is a shrub endemic to Western Australia....
) (2 subspecies)
- D. cuneata (now B. obovata
- D. ser. Marginatae (1 species)
- D. ser. Folliculosae (1 species, 5 varieties)
- D. ser. Acrodontae (4 species, 2 varieties)
- D. ser. CapitellataeDryandra ser. CapitellataeDryandra ser. Capitellatae is an obsolete series within the former genus Dryandra . It was published by Alex George in 1996, but discarded in 2007 when Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele sank Dryandra into Banksia.-Publication:George published the series in his 1996 "New taxa and a new infrageneric...
(2 species, 2 subspecies) - D. ser. IlicinaeDryandra ser. IlicinaeDryandra ser. Ilicinae is an obsolete series within the former genus Dryandra . It was first published by Carl Meissner in 1856, but was discarded by George Bentham in 1870...
(3 species, 2 varieties) - D. ser. Dryandra (3 species, 2 subspecies)
- D. ser. Foliosae (3 species, 2 subspecies)
- D. ser. Decurrentes (1 species)
- D. ser. Tenuifoliae (2 species, 2 varieties)
- D. ser. Runcinatae (4 species, 7 subspecies)
- D. ser. Triangulares (3 species, 3 subspecies)
- D. ser. AphragmaDryandra ser. AphragmaDryandra ser. Aphragma is an obsolete series within the former genus Dryandra . It was first published at sectional rank by Robert Brown in 1830, and was retained at that rank until 1999, when Alex George demoted it to a series...
(9 species, 3 subspecies) - D. ser. Ionthocarpae (1 species, 2 subspecies)
- D. ser. Inusitatae (1 species)
- D. ser. Subulatae (1 species)
- D. ser. Gymnocephalae (11 species, 4 subspecies, 2 varieties)
- D. ser. Concinnae (3 species)
- D. ser. Obvallatae (7 species, 2 varieties)
- D. ser. Pectinatae (1 species)
- D. ser. Acuminatae (1 species)
- D. ser. NiveaeDryandra ser. NiveaeDryandra ser. Niveae is an obsolete series within the former genus Dryandra . It was first published by George Bentham in 1870, and was given a new circumscription by Alex George in 1996, but was ultimately discarded in 2007 when Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele sunk Dryandra into Banksia.-According to...
(7 species, 7 subspecies)
- D. ser. Floribundae
- D. subg. HemiclidiaDryandra subg. HemiclidiaDryandra subg. Hemiclidia is an obsolete plant taxon that encompassed material that is now included in Banksia. Published at genus rank as Hemiclidia by Robert Brown in 1830, it was set aside by George Bentham in 1870, but reinstated at subgenus rank by Alex George in 1996...
(2 species) - D. subg. DiplophragmaDryandra subg. DiplophragmaDryandra subg. Diplophragma is an obsolete subgenus within the former genus Dryandra . It was first published by Robert Brown in 1830, but was discarded by George Bentham in 1870...
(1 species)
- D. subg. Dryandra
This arrangement remained current until 2007, when botanists Austin Mast
Austin Mast
Austin R. Mast is a research botanist. Born in 1972, he obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2000. He is currently an associate professor within the Department of Biological Science at Florida State University , and has been director of FSU's since August 2003.One of his...
and Kevin Thiele
Kevin Thiele
Kevin R. Thiele is curator of the Western Australian Herbarium. His research interests include the systematics of the plant families Proteaceae, Rhamnaceae and Violaceae, and the conservation ecology of grassy woodland ecosystems...
transferred Dryandra into Banksia. They also published B. subgenus Spathulatae
Banksia subg. Spathulatae
Banksia subg. Spathulatae is a valid botanic name for a subgenus of Banksia. It was published in 2007 by Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele, and defined as containing all those Banksia species having spathulate cotyledons...
for the Banksia taxa having spoon-shaped cotyledon
Cotyledon
A cotyledon , is a significant part of the embryo within the seed of a plant. Upon germination, the cotyledon may become the embryonic first leaves of a seedling. The number of cotyledons present is one characteristic used by botanists to classify the flowering plants...
s, thus redefining the subgenus Banksia
Banksia subg. Banksia
Banksia subg. Banksia is a valid botanic name for a subgenus of Banksia. As an autonym, it necessarily contains the type species of Banksia, B. serrata . Within this constraint, however, there have been various circumscriptions.-Banksia verae:B. subg...
as comprising those that do not. They were not ready, however, to tender an infrageneric arrangement encompassing Dryandra, so as an interim measure they transferred Dryandra into Banksia at series
Series (botany)
Series is a low-level taxonomic rank below that of section but above that of species.In botany, a series is a subdivision of a genus...
rank. This minimised the nomenclatural disruption of the transfer, but also caused George's rich infrageneric arrangement to be set aside. Thus under the interim arrangements implemented by Mast and Thiele, B. acanthopoda is placed in B. subg. Banksia
Banksia subg. Banksia
Banksia subg. Banksia is a valid botanic name for a subgenus of Banksia. As an autonym, it necessarily contains the type species of Banksia, B. serrata . Within this constraint, however, there have been various circumscriptions.-Banksia verae:B. subg...
, ser. Dryandra.
Distribution and habitat
Avon Wheatbelt
Avon Wheatbelt is an Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia region in Western Australia and part of the larger Southwest Australia savanna ecoregion.-Further reading:...
biogeographic
Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species , organisms, and ecosystems in space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities vary in a highly regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area...
region, in the vicinity of Woodanilling and Katanning; since then, a population has been found in the Jarrah Forest
Jarrah Forest
Jarrah Forest is an Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia region in Western Australia.-Location and description:The ecoregion stands on the 300m high Yilgarn block inland plateau and includes wooded valleys such as those of Western Australia's Murray River and the Helena River near...
region, south of Darkan
Darkan, Western Australia
Darkan is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, between Collie and the Albany Highway on the Coalfields Road. It is also the seat of the Shire of West Arthur. At the 2006 census, Darkan had a population of 203.-History:...
.
It grows in tall closed kwongan
Kwongan
Kwongan is a type of heathland found on the coastal plains of Western Australia. The name is derived from the language of the Noongar people. Kwongan comprises floristically-rich heath with dense thickets of sclerophyllous shrubs and isolated small trees...
heath
Heath (habitat)
A heath or heathland is a dwarf-shrub habitat found on mainly low quality acidic soils, characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, often dominated by plants of the Ericaceae. There are some clear differences between heath and moorland...
in lateritic
Laterite
Laterites are soil types rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are rusty-red because of iron oxides. They develop by intensive and long-lasting weathering of the underlying parent rock...
soils, sometimes with a sparse overstorey of wandoo (Eucalyptus wandoo
Eucalyptus wandoo
Eucalyptus wandoo is a medium-sized tree widely distributed in southwest Western Australia.-Description:It grows as a small to medium-sized tree up to 25 metres in height. It has smooth bark, often in mottled patches of white, light grey, light brown light yellow and pink...
) or Drummond's gum (E. drummondii
Eucalyptus drummondii
Eucalyptus drummondii is a mallee eucalypt native to southwest Western Australia.-Description:It grows as a mallee or tree up to 9 meters tall, with smooth, powdery, bark that is white, pink or grey in colour. Leaves at grey-green in colour. The flowers are white, and arise from pink buds on stems...
). Other B. ser. Dryandra species that co-occur with B. acanthopoda include B. stuposa
Banksia stuposa
Banksia stuposa is a shrub endemic to Western Australia. It was known as Dryandra stuposa until 2007, when all Dryandra species were transferred to Banksia by Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele.-Description:...
, B. armata var. ignicida
Banksia armata var. ignicida
Banksia armata var. ignicida is a variety of shrub endemic to Western Australia.-Description:B. armata var. ignicida grows as an upright shrub, up to three metres in height, with deeply serrated leaves and yellow or sometimes pink inflorescences...
and B. nobilis
Banksia nobilis
Banksia nobilis, commonly known as Golden Dryandra, Great Dryandra or Kerosene Bush, is a shrub endemic to Western Australia. It occurs on lateritic rises from Eneabba to Katanning in the state's Southwest Botanic Province. With large pinnatifid leaves with triangular lober, and a golden or reddish...
. The area has a mean temperature range of 9 to 22°C (48–72°F), with up to 40 days above 30°C (86°F), and a mean annual rainfall of 400 to 500 mm (15.7–19.7 in).
Ecology
Little has been reported of its ecology. The flowering season is from May to July, and the seed is shed annually. When first published, Banksia acanthopoda was listed as "Priority Three – Poorly Known Taxa" on the Department of Environment and Conservation's Declared Rare and Priority Flora List. It has since been upgraded to "Priority Two – Poorly Known Taxa". Threats to the species vary according to the location. In the Avon Wheatbelt, where the land is heavily degraded due to extensive clearing for agriculture, a number of threatening processes have been identified: loss of habitat due to land clearing and the encroachment of salinitySalinity in Australia
Soil salinity and dryland salinity are two problems degrading the environment of Australia. Salinity is a concern in most states, but especially in the south-west of Western Australia....
results in both direct plant loss and population fragmentation; fragmentation in turn affects genetic diversity; grazing pressure
Grazing pressure
Grazing pressure is the stress on plant populations due to the grazing of animals. Plants may be lost either directly as a result of animals grazing upon them, or indirectly as a result of damage to the vegetation or ecosystem by animals moving through the area...
affects plant health, as does competition from exotic weeds; and changes to the fire regime
Fire regime
A fire regime is the pattern, frequency and intensity of the bushfires and wildfires that prevails in an area. It is an integral part of fire ecology, and renewal for certain types of ecosystems. If fires are too frequent, plants may be killed before they have matured, or before they have set...
have the potential to eliminate entire generations. Further west, in the Jarrah Forest region, pathogen
Pathogen
A pathogen gignomai "I give birth to") or infectious agent — colloquially, a germ — is a microbe or microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, prion, or fungus that causes disease in its animal or plant host...
s constitute the only identified threat to the species.
Information on the species' susceptibility to dieback is problematic: the only information available is from the 2006 report Management of Phytophthora cinnamomi for Biodiversity Conservation in Australia, which states that D. acanthopoda is "highly susceptible"; but this claim is sourced to a 1994 paper that asserts it not for B. acanthopoda but for the species then known as "Dryandra sp. Kamballup (M. Pieroni 20.9.88)", now B. ionthocarpa
Banksia ionthocarpa
Banksia ionthocarpa is a shrub endemic to Western Australia. It was known as Dryandra ionthocarpa until 2007.-Taxonomy:B. ionthocarpa was first discovered in 1987 by professional seed supplier Peter Luscombe. The following year specimens were collected by both Margaret Pieroni and Alex George...
.
Investigations into long-term seed storage have shown B. acanthopoda to store well under standard genebank storage conditions. After six years of storage in these conditions, 90% of seeds were successfully germinated, a rate similar to that of fresh seed.
Cultivation
Banksia acanthopoda is little known in cultivation, although it has been successfully grown and propagated at The Banksia Farm in Mount Barker, Western AustraliaMount Barker, Western Australia
Mount Barker is a town on the Albany Highway and is the administrative centre of the Shire of Plantagenet in the Great Southern region of Western Australia...
, and at the Royal Botanic Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne, is a division of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. It is located in the Melbourne suburb of Cranbourne, about 45 km south-east of the Melbourne city centre....
in Cranbourne
Cranbourne, Victoria
Cranbourne is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 43 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Casey. At the 2006 Census, Cranbourne had a population of 14,750....
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. It is a sprawling and untidy shrub, but its habit can be improved by pruning. Its prominent yellow flower heads appear from July to October in cultivation, and have potential for use in the cut flower industry
Floriculture
Floriculture, or flower farming, is a discipline of horticulture concerned with the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for gardens and for floristry, comprising the floral industry...
. It prefers a well-drained soil in full sun or light shade, and will tolerate dry conditions once established. Propagation is by seed; seeds take three to five weeks to germinate, and have a germination rate of 80 to 90 percent.