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''Banksia cuneata'', commonly known as Matchstick Banksia or Quairading Banksia, is an endangered species of flowering plant in the Proteaceae family. Endemic to southwest Western Australia, it belongs to ''Banksia'' subg. ''Isostylis'', a sub-genus of three closely related ''Banksia'' species with inflorescences or flower clusters that are dome-shaped heads rather than characteristic ''Banksia'' flower spikes. A shrub or small tree up to high, it has prickly foliage and pink and cream flowers. The common name ''Matchstick Banksia'' arises from the blooms in late bud, the individual buds of which resemble matchsticks. The species is pollinated by honeyeaters (Meliphagidae). Although ''B. cuneata'' was first collected before 1880, it was not until 1981 that Australian botanist Alex George formally described and named the species. There are two genetically distinct population groups, but no recognised varieties. This ''Banksia'' is classified as endangered, surviving in fragments of remnant bushland in a region which has been 93% cleared for agriculture. As ''Banksia cuneata'' is killed by fire and regenerates from seed, it is highly sensitive to bushfire frequency—fires recurring within four years could wipe out populations of plants not yet mature enough to set seed. ''Banksia cuneata'' is rarely cultivated, and its prickly foliage limits its utility in the cut flower industry. ==Description== ''Banksia cuneata'' grows as a shrub or small tree up to high, without a lignotuber. It has one or more main trunks with smooth grey bark, and many branches. Young stems are covered in coarse hairs, but these are lost as the stems age. The leaves are wedge-shaped with serrated edges, having from one to five teeth along each side. They range from 1 to 4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) long and 0.5 to 1.5 cm (0.2–0.6 in) wide, on a petiole of 2 to 3 mm. The upper surface is dull green; as with the stems, both leaf surfaces are covered in coarse hairs when young, but these are soon lost. Flowers occur in dome-shaped heads from three to four cm (1.2–1.6 in) in diameter, growing at the ends of branches. They comprise 55 to 65 individual flowers, enclosed at the base by a whorl of short involucral bracts. As with most other Proteaceae, each flower consists of a perianth comprising four united tepals, and a single pistil, the style of which is initially enclosed within the limb of the perianth, but breaks free at anthesis. In ''B. cuneata'', the perianth is about 2.5 cm (1 in) long, with a limb of about 0.4 cm (0.16 in). Prior to anthesis, the long thin perianth topped by a prominent limb resembles a matchstick, which explains one common name for this species. At first, the perianth is mostly cream, being pink only near its base; it later becomes pink throughout. The style is initially cream, but turns red; the pollen presenter is green.〔 Old flowers soon fall from the flower heads (often called cones at this stage), revealing a woody base which may have up to five follicles embedded in it. These are a mottled grey colour, smooth, felted with short fine hairs, and measure from 1 to 1.3 cm (0.4–0.5 in) high, 1.7 to 2.1 cm (0.6–0.8 in) along the seam, and 0.9 to 1.2 cm (0.4–0.5 in) across the seam. Each follicle contains up to two seeds; these are roughly triangular in shape, with a large papery wing.〔 ''Banksia cuneata'' is most easily distinguished from the other two species in ''B.'' subg. ''Isostylis'' by its brighter flowers and duller leaves.〔 It further differs from ''B. ilicifolia'' in its smaller habit; its smooth bark; its smaller leaves, flowers and fruit; and in its sequence of flower colour changes.〔 The leaves, flowers and fruit of ''B. oligantha'' are smaller still,〔 and its foliage is not as prickly as that of ''B. cuneata''.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Banksia cuneata」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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