Banksia ornata

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Desert Banksia
Banksia ornata cult. Mt Annan Botanic Gardens.
Conservation status
Secure
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Proteales Family: Proteaceae Genus: Banksia Subgenus: Banksia subg. Banksia Section: Banksia sect. Banksia Series: Banksia ser. Banksia Species: B. ornata
Binomial name
Banksia ornata F.Muell ex. Meisn.

The Desert Banksia (Banksia ornata) is a species of shrub in the plant genus Banksia which grows up to 3m tall. It occurs in western Victoria, and in South Australia, where it is common on the Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and east of Adelaide, but is apparently absent from Yorke Peninsula.

It tends to grow in mallee and heathland environments in sandy well drained soils.

It's flowers exist as cylindrical spikes which are initially yellow/green to yellow, and turn bronze in when aged. The Desert Banskia flowers in late winter to spring. The green leaves are elongated wedge shaped with serrated edges about 20mm wide and 100mm long.

Honey eating birds are attracted to this shrub.

[edit] References

• George, Alex S. (1981). "The genus Banksia L.f. (Proteaceae)". Nuytsia 3 (3): 239–473. ISSN 0085-4417. 
• George, Alex (1999). "Banksia", in Wilson, Annette (ed.): Flora of Australia: Volume 17B: Proteaceae 3: Hakea to Dryandra. CSIRO Publishing / Australian Biological Resources Study, 175–251. ISBN 0-643-06454-0. 
• Taylor, Anne and Stephen Hopper (1988). The Banksia Atlas (Australian Flora and Fauna Series Number 8). Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-07124-9. 

[edit] External links

• Banksia ornata F.Muell. ex Meisn.. Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government.
• Banksia ornata F.Muell. ex Meisn.. Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.