Banksia L.f.

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution

A genus of about 170 species if Dryandra is included as a synonym, 76 species in a strict sense. All are endemic to Australia except one, Banksia dentata L.f., which also occurs in New Guinea and the Aru Islands.

Morphology General Habit

Trees and shrubs to c. 7 m (in New Guinea)

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, occasionally whorled, simple, pinnately lobed, dentate to pinnatisect, or entire, glaucous below

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence terminal, dense, many-flowered spikes or heads, oblong to globose, involucral bracts basal, caducous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers sessile, paired, each pair subtended by a persistent bract and 2 bracteoles; perianth yellowish (in New Guinea), splitting into 4 segments or on one side only, apex remaining fused and enclosing style end before anthesis; stamens sessile in the tepal lobes; disk glands 4; ovary sessile, ovules 2, style longer than perianth, pollen presenter commonly ribbed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a cone-like woody follicle with valves opening via a horizontal suture to release the seeds, often after fire

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1–2, winged, separated by a 2-winged wedge-shaped false septum.

Ecology

Found in more open habitats such as savannah forest, and grasslands including montane grasslands that are frequently burnt; from sea level to c. 750 m.

Recognition

Banksia dentata is a shrub or small tree with distinctive leaves with strongly dentate margins and a silvery-glaucous underside, and the condensed, cone-like fruit and inflorescence is unmistakeable.