Large shrub or small tree in the family Proteaceae found on the south coast of Western Australia
Showy banksia
Inflorescence
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
Clade:
Tracheophytes
Clade:
Angiosperms
Clade:
Eudicots
Order:
Proteales
Family:
Proteaceae
Genus:
Banksia
Subgenus:
Banksia subg. Banksia
Section:
Banksia sect. Banksia
Series:
Banksia ser. Banksia
Species:
B. speciosa
Binomial name
Banksia speciosa
R.Br.[1]
Synonyms
Sirmuellera speciosa (R.Br.) Kuntze
Banksia speciosa, commonly known as the showy banksia, is a species of large shrub or small tree in the family Proteaceae. It is found on the south coast of Western Australia between Hopetoun (34° S 120° E) and Point Culver (33° S 124° E), growing on white or grey sand in shrubland. Reaching up to 8 m (26 ft) in height, it is a single-stemmed plant that has thin leaves with prominent triangular "teeth" along each margin, which are 20–45 cm (7.9–17.7 in) long and 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) wide. The prominent cream-yellow flower spikes known as inflorescences appear throughout the year. As they age they develop up to 20 follicles each that store seeds until opened by fire. Though widely occurring, the species is highly sensitive to dieback and large populations of plants have succumbed to the disease.
Collected and described by Robert Brown in the early 19th century, B. speciosa is classified in the series Banksia within the genus. Its closest relative is B. baxteri. B. speciosa plants are killed by bushfire, and regenerate from seed. The flowers attract nectar- and insect-feeding birds, particularly honeyeaters, and a variety of insects. In cultivation, B. speciosa grows well in a sunny location on well-drained soil in areas with dry summers. It cannot be grown in areas with humid summers, though it has been grafted onto Banksia serrata or B. integrifolia.
^"Banksia speciosa R.Br". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
Banksiaspeciosa, commonly known as the showy banksia, is a species of large shrub or small tree in the family Proteaceae. It is found on the south coast...
was already a plant named Banksiaspeciosa (showy banksia), Mast and Thiele had to choose a new specific epithet for D. speciosa; their choice, splendida...
in the early 19th century, Banksia coccinea appears to be most closely related to Banksiaspeciosa and B. baxteri. Banksia coccinea plants are killed...
the accompanying text, John Lindley identified the plant as B. speciosa (Showy Banksia), but commented "We found neither the whiteness of the under side...
Banksia menziesii, commonly known as firewood banksia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae. It is a gnarled tree up to 10 m (33 ft)...
prionotes (acorn banksia), and less commonly B. speciosa (showy banksia), B. menziesii (Menzies' banksia), B. burdettii and B. ashbyi are grown on farms...
known to inhabit elevated leaf litter in a dense coastal thickets of Banksiaspeciosa. It has not yet been evaluated and assigned a conservation status by...
of fresh water. The sandplains support dense stands of banksias (Banksiaspeciosa and Banksia pulchella). Other flora that can be found around the park...
speciosa. Other species include Allocasuarina campestris, Grevillea cagiana, G. eriostachya, Isopogon dubius, and Xanthorrhoea species. The Banksia bee...
Banksia aemula, commonly known as the wallum banksia, is a shrub of the family Proteaceae. Found from Bundaberg south to Sydney on the Australian east...
that its follicles resembled those of Banksia ornata, while the muricate seed body resembled those of B. speciosa and B. baxteri, though its obovate, crinkled...
Labillardière collects specimens of B. repens (Creeping Banksia) and B. speciosa (Showy Banksia) at Esperance Bay. 1793 — James Edward Smith publishes...
Banksia serrata, commonly known as the saw banksia, the old man banksia, the saw-tooth banksia or the red honeysuckle and as wiriyagan by the Cadigal people...
type species was "H. grandiflora" Retz., which is a synonym of Hellenia speciosa. Plants of the World Online currently includes the following (with some...
Banksia petiolaris is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae native to Western Australia, where it is found in sandy soils in the...
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