Banksia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

See text

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Banksia is a genus of about 60 species in the plant family Proteaceae, named after the English botanist Sir Joseph Banks, of the Cook expedition in 1768. They are native to Australia, varying from prostrate shrubs to trees up to 25 m tall. They are known as Banksias or Australian Honeysuckle Trees.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In most cases the under surface of the leaves is silvery white, contrasting with the deep green of the upper surface. When flowering, they often produce magnificent flower spikes containing hundreds of flowers. Once the flowers start to die off the seed heads become dry and brown, superficially resembling conifer cones, and often clinging to the plant for several years. Any fertilised flowers become knobbly brown seedpods during this time.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;Species

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Banksias are grown as ornamental plants in many warm temperate and subtropical areas, valued for their imposing flower heads and drought tolerance. A few show some limited frost tolerance down to about -7?C.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The knobbly appearance of aged Banksia cones inspired children's writer May Gibbs to create a character for her Australian Flower Fairy series Snugglepot and Cuddlepie - the Big Bad Banksia Men were the villains of her tales.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Genus: :...

Botanist: REDIRECT botanyA Botanist is a person who study plants...

Joseph Banks: Sir Joseph Banks, FRS (February 13, 1743 – June 19, 1820) was the English naturalist and botanist on Cook's first great voyage (1768–1771) and some 75 species bear Banks' name. He is credited with the introduction to the West of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa, and the genus named after him,...