Banksia integrifolia subsp. monticola

taxobox
name = White Mountain Banksia

---

image_caption = Inflorescence of "Banksia integrifolia" subsp. "monticola" in late bud
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
ordo = Proteales
familia = Proteaceae
genus = "Banksia"
species = "B. integrifolia"
subspecies = ""'B. integrifolia"
subsp. "monticola"
binomial = "Banksia integrifolia"
subsp. "monticola"
binomial_authority = K.R.Thiele|

"Banksia integrifolia" subsp. "monticola", commonly known as White Mountain Banksia, is a subspecies of "Banksia integrifolia". Described in 1994, it occurs in the Blue Mountains in northern New South Wales. It contains the largest recorded "Banksia" 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, notable Barrington Tops National Park.cite encyclopedia|last=George|first=Alex|authorlink=Alex George|year=1999|title=Banksia|editor=Wilson, Annette|encyclopedia=Flora of Australia|volume=Volume 17B: Proteaceae 3: Hakea to Dryandra|pages=175–251|location=Collingwood, Victoria|publisher=CSIRO Publishing / Australian Biological Resources Study|id=ISBN 978-0-643-06454-6] This subspecies contains the largest recorded "Banksia" specimens, with trees in Washpool National Park growing to 35 metres (110 feet) high.cite journal | author = Liber C | year = 2004 | title = Really Big Banksias | journal = Banksia Study Group Newsletter| volume = 6 | pages = 4–5]

Taxonomy

For many years this subspecies was considered a mountain form of "B. integrifolia" subsp. "compar", although it is now known to be closer to "B. integrifolia" subsp. "integrifolia" both pheneticallycite journal | author = Thiele, Kevin and Pauline Y. Ladiges | year = 1994 | title = The Banksia integrifolia L.f. Species Complex (Proteaceae) | journal = Australian Systematic Botany | volume = 7 | issue = 4 | pages = 393–408 | doi = 10.1071/SB9940393] and genetically.cite journal | author = Evans, K. M., Newbigin, E. and Ladiges, P. Y. | year = 2002 | title = An investigation of genetic variation in B. integrifolia (Proteaceae) using the AFLP technique | journal = Australian Systematic Botany | volume = 15 | pages = 9–17 | doi = 10.1071/SB01013] 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".APNI | name = Banksia integrifolia subsp. monticola K.R.Thiele | id = 129120] . In 1994, Kevin Thiele 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 "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 and the New England National Park. 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.

References

External links

*Flora of Australia Online | name = Banksia integrifolia subsp. monticola | id = 129120