Friday, 29 April 2011

Banks' legacy

When Joseph Banks collected specimens of flora at Botany Bay in 1770 on James Cook's voyage of discovery one genus of plants would forever recognise his significance by bearing his name; Banksias.
Together with Solander he collected four of the some 76 species that occur naturally in Australia and of those only one is found elsewhere. The vast majority of the species are found in Western Australia and those are generally rather difficult to grow in the east due to the climatic and soil variations. They are favourite plants for their fantastic flower spikes that birds love, the seed cones that all Australian kids know as Banksia men from the May Gibbs' childrens' stories and their sculptural forms. Some of our examples are coming into flower at present so I snapped a few today.


Banksia ericifolia  Flowers unopened

Banksia spinulosa var. collina

Banksia spinulosa Banksia Golden candles cultivar

Banksia integrifolia  Coast Banksia

Banksia plagiocarpa with Lewin honeyeater
Banksia aemula  Seed cone unopened follicles

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