Banksia II
by Cassandra Buckley
Title
Banksia II
Artist
Cassandra Buckley
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Please note: the fine art america watermark does not appear on purchased items. This is a Banksia flower captured at a local park. You can see how the flower is shed to reveal the seeds beneath. I have included a description below, as they are a curious Australian plant.
'Banksia is a genus of over 200 species in the Protea family (Proteaceae). All species occur in Australia with one (B.dentata) extending to islands to Australia's north. Banksias can be found in most environments; the tropics, sub-alpine areas, the coast and desert areas. The most diversity in the genus occurs in the south of Western Australia where most of the species occur.' … 'The flowers are followed by more or less woody follicles each containing one or two seeds. In 'typical' banksias, the seeds occur in woody seed "cones" in which the seeds are contained within closed follicles, two seeds per follicle. In the former genus Dryandra, the follicles are hidden within the spent flower clusters. In both cases, these follicles usually remain tightly closed unless stimulated to open by heat, such as following a bushfire but, with a few species, the seed is released annually. The seeds themselves have papery wings which allows them to be distributed by wind.
Most banksias are small to medium shrubs but there are many which are prostrate with underground stems and a few can become large trees. Those species native to areas where fires occur at regular intervals often have a "lignotuber", a woody swelling at or below ground level from which regeneration of the plant can occur if the above ground stems are destroyed. Other species are killed in fire, with seedlings sprouting in their place.' ... 'Archaeological evidence suggests that banksias or Banksia-like plants have existed for over 40 million years. The first humans to discover and make use of Banksia plants were the Australian aborigines who used the nectar from the flowers as part of their diet.' Retrieved from http://anpsa.org.au/banksia1.html 03/10/2014
Uploaded
October 2nd, 2014
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