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Saturday, September 8, 2012

Banksia menziesii

Banksia menziesii

 Synonyms: firewood banksia, port wine banksia, strawberry banksia







  • is a species of flowering plant in the genus Banksia.

  • It is a gnarled tree up to 10 m (35 ft) tall, or a lower spreading 1–3 m (4–10 ft) shrub in the more northern parts of its range.

  • The serrated leaves are dull green with new growth a paler grey green.

  • The prominent autumn and winter inflorescences are often two-colored red or pink and yellow.

  • Yellow blooms are rarely seen.

  • First described by the botanist Robert Brown in the early 19th century, no separate varieties of Banksia menziesii are recognized.

  • Banksia menziesii

  • It is found in Western Australia, from the Perth region north to the Murchison River and generally grows on sandy soils in scrubland or low woodland.

  • Banksia menziesii provides food for a wide array of invertebrate and vertebrate animals; birds and in particular honeyeaters are prominent visitors.

  • A relatively hardy plant, Banksia menziesii is commonly seen in gardens, nature strips and parks in Australian urban areas with Mediterranean climates, but its sensitivity to dieback from the soil-borne water mold Phytophthora cinnamomi makes it short-lived in places with humid summers, such as Sydney. 

  • Banksia menziesii is widely used in the cut flower industry.