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

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

of ''

Banksia integrifolia ''Banksia integrifolia'', commonly known as the 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 (Australia), Victoria and Cen ...

''. Described in 1994, it occurs in the Blue Mountains and in northern

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

. It contains the largest recorded ''

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. ''Banksias'' range i ...

'' 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 The Barrington Tops National Park is a protected national park located in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, Australia. Gazetted in 1969, the park is situated between Scone, Singleton, Dungog, Gloucester and East Gresford. The park is part ...

. This subspecies contains the largest recorded ''Banksia'' specimens, with trees in

Washpool National Park The Washpool National Park is a protected national park located in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. The park is situated approximately north of Sydney, inland from . The park has two campgrounds and is managed by the NSW N ...

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'', although it is now known to be closer to ''B. integrifolia'' subsp. ''integrifolia'' both phenetically and genetically. It was identified as a separate subspecies in

Gwen Harden Gwenneth Jean Harden (born 1940) is an Australian botanist and author. In 1990 the first of her four volumes of the ''Flora of New South Wales'' was published. The four-volume set was fully revised in 2000. The nightcap oak (''Eidothea hardeni ...

's 1991 publication ''

Flora of New South Wales *''The Flora that are native to New South Wales, Australia''. :*''Taxa of the lowest rank are always included. Higher taxa are included only if endemic''. *The categorisation scheme follows the World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distr ...

'', but Harden did not publish a name for it, instead referring to it as "''Banksia integrifolia'' subsp. A". In 1994,

Kevin Thiele Kevin R. Thiele is currently an adjunct associate professor at the University of Western Australia and the director of Taxonomy Australia. He was the curator of the Western Australian Herbarium from 2006 to 2015. His research interests include ...

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 is a

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

word meaning "dweller in the mountains".

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 The New England National Park is a protected national park located on the Northern Tablelands in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. The park was created in May 1935 and is situated approximately north of Sydney, and south ...

. 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. It has been planted in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

Gallery

Image:Banksia integrifolia subsp. monticola 04.jpg, ''Banksia integrifolia'' subsp. ''monticola'' habitat on Waterfall Way near the

turnoff Image:Banksia integrifolia subsp. monticola 06.jpg, leaves on young plant Image:Banksia integrifolia subsp. monticola 05.jpg, mature leaves Image:Banksia integrifolia subsp. monticola 07.jpg, flower spike before

anthesis Anthesis is the period during which a flower is fully open and functional. It may also refer to the onset of that period. The onset of anthesis is spectacular in some species. In ''Banksia'' species, for example, anthesis involves the extension ...

Image:Banksia integrifolia subsp. monticola 08.jpg, top end of flower spike Image:Banksia integrifolia subsp. monticola 02.jpg, flowers after anthesis

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Banksia Integrifolia Subsp. Monticola monticola integrifolia subsp. monticola Flora of New South Wales Plant subspecies