Banksia integrifolia subsp. monticola, commonly known as White Mountain Banksia, is a subspecies

Subspecies

Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...

 of Banksia integrifolia

Banksia integrifolia

Banksia integrifolia, commonly known as Coast Banksia, is a species of tree that grows along the east coast of Australia. One of the most widely distributed Banksia species, it occurs between Victoria and Central Queensland in a broad range of habitats, from coastal dunes to mountains...

. Described in 1994, it occurs in the Blue Mountains in northern New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

. It contains the largest recorded 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...

trees.

Description

B. integrifolia subsp. monticola is similar to B. integrifolia subsp. integrifolia, but differs in having longer, narrower leaves, and follicles that are more deeply embedded in the old flower spike. Follicles are less likely to open spontaneously. Inflorescences are similar to those of subspecies integrifolia, but may be pink-tinged in some localities, notably in Barrington Tops National Park

Barrington Tops National Park

Barrington Tops is a National Park in the Hunter Valley, approximately north of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. The nearest towns are Scone, Singleton, Dungog, Gloucester and East Gresford....

. This subspecies contains the largest recorded Banksia specimens, with trees in Washpool National Park

Washpool National Park

The Washpool National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 516 km north of Sydney. The park is 586.78 km2 in size, has two campgrounds and is managed by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service...

 growing to 35 metres (110 feet) high. It is the most frost tolerant banksia tree of all.

Taxonomy

For many years this subspecies was considered a mountain form of B. integrifolia subsp. compar

Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar

Banksia integrifolia subsp. compar is a subspecies of Banksia integrifolia. It has larger, glossier leaves than other subspecies, and occurs much further north.-Description:...

, although it is now known to be closer to B. integrifolia subsp. integrifolia

Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia

Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia is a subspecies of Banksia integrifolia.-Description:B. integrifolia subsp. integrifolia can be distinguished from the other subspecies of B. integrifolia by its slightly smaller, broader leaves, which are also somewhat duller than those of...

 both phenetically and genetically. It was identified as a separate subspecies in Gwen Harden's 1991 publication Flora of New South Wales, but Harden did not publish a name for it, instead referring to it as "Banksia integrifolia subsp. A".. In 1994, 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...

 confirmed its status as a subspecies, and published it as Banksia integrifolia subsp. monticola K.R.Thiele. The subspecies epithet monticola refers to its montane distribution, and derives from the Latin

Latin

Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...

 mons, meaning "mountain", and cola meaning "inhabits".

Distribution and habitat

Unlike the other B. integrifolia subspecies, B. integrifolia subsp. monticola occurs well inland, in the Blue Mountains between Mount Wilson

Mount Wilson

Mount Wilson can refer to several things:* Mount Wilson ** Mount Wilson Observatory* Mount Wilson, New South Wales, a mountain with a small hamlet in Australia* One of a list of peaks named Mount Wilson...

 and the New England National Park

New England National Park

New England National Park is situated on the Northern Tablelands in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia, 560 km north of Sydney. It is about 10 km south of Waterfall Way, just 85 km east of Armidale and 65 km west of Coffs Harbour...

. It grows in fertile soils derived from igneous rock at altitudes above 650 metres, whereas the other subspecies occur only at altitudes below 500 metres, and are generally associated with infertile soils derived from sedimentary rock.

Cultivation and uses

It is valued because of its frost hardiness. There is a plant growing at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is an arboretum comprising 72 hectares accommodating over 42,000 trees and shrubs in about 12,000 taxa, notably a collection of oaks, camellia, magnolia and rhododendron....

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

.

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