Banksia attenuata

taxobox
name = Candlestick Banksia

---

image_caption = "B. attenuata", Margaret River
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
ordo = Proteales
familia = Proteaceae
genus = "Banksia"
species = "B. attenuata"
binomial = Banksia attenuata
binomial_authority = R. Brown|

The Candlestick Banksia ("Banksia attenuata") is a species of shrub in the plant genus "Banksia". It is a widespread species in the southwest of Western Australia, from north of Kalbarri National Park down to Cape Leeuwin and across to Fitzgerald River National Park.

John Lindley had named material collected by James Drummond "Banksia cylindrostachya" in 1840, but this proved to be the same as the species named "Banksia attenuata" by Robert Brown 30 years earlier in 1810, and thus Brown's name took precedence.The genus Banksia L.f. (Proteaceae)]

The Candlestick Banksia is pollinated by and provides food for a wide array of vertebrate and invertebrate animals in summer months. It has been widely used as a street tree and amenities planting in urban Western Australia, though its large size generally precludes use in small gardens. A dwarf form is commercially available in nurseries.

Description

In the north of its range, it is often a stunted shrub 1 to 2 m tall, but is more often a tree to 10 m tall. It regenerates from fire via lignotuber or epicormic buds from its fire-tolerant trunk. it has long narrow serrated leaves up to 270mm long and 150mm wide. New growth is pale grey-green. the brilliant yellow spikes occur from spring into summer and are up 50mm wide and up to 250-300 mm high.

Cultivation

All forms of "Banksia attenuata" require good drainage, sandy soil and a sunny position to do well. They are sensitive to dieback.A dwarf form is sometimes available in nurseries.

Taxonomy

"B. attenuata" was first collected by Robert Brown from King George Sound in 1801, and published by him in 1810. The species has had a fairly uneventful taxonomic history. No subspecies or varieties have been published, and it has only two synonyms:APNI | name = "Banksia attenuata" R.Br. | id = 52773]
* In 1840, John Lindley published a putative new species, "Banksia cylindrostachya", in his "A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony"; this has now be shown to be a taxonomic synonym of "B. attenuata".APNI | name = "Banksia cylindrostachya" Lindl. | id = 53299]
* In 1891, Otto Kuntze made a failed attempt to transfer "Banksia" to the new generic name "Sirmuellera". In the process he published the name "Sirmuellera attenuata", which is now considered a nomenclatural synonym of "B. attenuata".APNI | name = "Sirmuellera attenuata" (R.Br.) Kuntze | id = 22776]

Cultural use

Aboriginal people placed the flower spike in a paperbark-lined hole filled with water to make a sweet drink. Both this species and "Banksia aemula" have been credited with the inspiration behind May Gibbs' Big Bad Banksia Men.

References

*cite encyclopedia | author = George, Alex S. | year=1999 | editor = Wilson, Annette | title = Flora of Australia | volume = 17B: Proteaceae 3: Hakea to Dryandra | pages = 175–251 | publisher = CSIRO Publishing / Australian Biological Resources Study | id = ISBN 0-643-06454-0
*The Banksia Atlas

External links

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