Banksia littoralis
Encyclopedia
Banksia littoralis, commonly known as the Swamp Banksia, Swamp Oak, Pungura and the Western Swamp Banksia, is a tree
in the plant
genus
Banksia
. It is found in south west
Western Australia
from the south eastern metropolitan area of Perth
(31°6′S ) to the Stirling Range
(approximately 34 ° S) and Albany
(35 ° S). It is often mistaken for the River Banksia (Banksia seminuda
), as they share many similar characteristics.
and B. occidentalis
.
as other Western banksias. Seeds do not require any treatment, and take 20 to 36 days to germinate.
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
in the plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
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 found in south west
Southwest Australia
Southwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world...
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...
from the south eastern metropolitan area of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
(31°6′S ) to the Stirling Range
Stirling Range
The Stirling Range or Koikyennuruff is a range of mountains and hills in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, 337 km south-east of Perth. It is located at approximately and is over 60 km wide from west to east, stretching from the highway between Mount Barker and Cranbrook...
(approximately 34 ° S) and Albany
Albany, Western Australia
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
(35 ° S). It is often mistaken for the River Banksia (Banksia seminuda
Banksia seminuda
Banksia seminuda, commonly known as the River Banksia, is a tree in the plant genus Banksia. It is found in south west Western Australia from Dwellingup to the Broke Inlet east of Denmark . It is often mistaken for and was originally considered a subspecies of the Banksia littoralis...
), as they share many similar characteristics.
Description
The Swamp Banksia grows up to 20 metres tall with a gnarled trunk covered with a crumbly grey rough bark. Flowering occurs between late summer and late winter. Often partly hidden by foliage, the yellow flower spikes grow up to 200 mm long by 70 mm wide and contain in excess of 1000 individual flowers. The fruiting cones can remain on the trees for many years after shedding the flowers early. Leaves are between 100mm and 200mm with increasing teeth tips towards the end.Habitat
The Swamp banksia grows in high moisture peat like sand of depressions and swamps, common in coastal woodlands and heath.Taxonomy
Banksia littoralis appears most closely related to the other species of the series Spicigerae such as B. seminudaBanksia seminuda
Banksia seminuda, commonly known as the River Banksia, is a tree in the plant genus Banksia. It is found in south west Western Australia from Dwellingup to the Broke Inlet east of Denmark . It is often mistaken for and was originally considered a subspecies of the Banksia littoralis...
and B. occidentalis
Banksia occidentalis
The Red Swamp Banksia or Waterbush is a species of shrub or small tree in the plant genus Banksia. It occurs on the south coast of Western Australia in three disjunct populations: at Augusta, around Albany and in the Esperance area.A 1980 field study at Cheyne beach showed it to be pollinated by...
.
Cultivation
Banksia littoralis has proven relatively easy to grow in cultivation. It is possibly not as sensitive to diebackPhytophthora cinnamomi
Phytophthora cinnamomi is a soil-borne water mould that produces an infection which causes a condition in plants called root rot or dieback. The plant pathogen is one of the world's most invasive species and is present in over 70 countries from around the world.- Life cycle and effects on plants :P...
as other Western banksias. Seeds do not require any treatment, and take 20 to 36 days to germinate.