Banksia ashbyi

Ashby's Banksia
File:Ashby's Banksia inflorescence in Kings Park.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
Order:	Proteales
Family:	Proteaceae
Genus:	Banksia
Species:	B. ashbyi
Binomial name
Banksia ashbyi Baker f.
Subspecies
B. ashbyi subsp. ashbyi B. ashbyi subsp. boreoscaia

The Ashby's Banksia (Banksia ashbyi) is a species of shrub in the plant genus Banksia. It occurs in heath and spinifex country along the coast of Western Australia between Geraldton and Exmouth.

Description

This shrub grows up to 4 m high and 2 m wide, lobed leaves grow to 150 mm in length. The flower spikes are orange in colour, growing 150 mm high and 90 mm wide. B. ashbyi flowers from September to November.

Taxonomy

There are two subspecies, distinguished by habit:

• B. ashbyi subsp. ashbyi grows as a tree up to 7 m in height. It lacks a lignotuber, so is fire-sensitive.
• B. ashbyi subsp. boreoscaia grows as a sprawling shrub no more than 2 m high. It is lignotuberous, so fire-tolerant.

Ecology

An assessment of the potential impact of climate change on this species found that its range is unlikely to contract and may actually grow, depending on how effectively it migrates into newly habitable areas.

Cultivation

Seeds do not require any treatment, and take 16 to 61 days to germinate.