Proteaceae

Banksia — named after wife of naturalist Sir Joseph Banks, who collected first Banksia specimens for classification in 1770.

marginata — from Latin marginatus, bordered, referring to leaf margins.

Not widespread. Noted in Munderoo district and Bringenbrong-Khancoban district. Historical records indicate it once existed around Narrandera.

NSW, Vic, Tas, SA.

Dry sclerophyll forest.

Compact shrub or small tree to 12 m high.

Most soils in cultivation, tolerating some waterlogging, frost and wind. Full sun or partial shade. Grows more spindly in shady sites.

Fast-growing compared to other banksias, and long-lived. Fire retarder. Attributes strongly influenced by provenance (locality), including presence or absence of lignotuber. Tolerates frost, and short periods of waterlogging.

Pale yellow, Feb-Jul. Profuse and honey-scented.

Early Feb to late Apr. Seed released 3-8 weeks after maturity.

From fresh seed (± 125 viable seeds per gram) or cuttings of firm young growth. Fresh seeds firm and white when cut in two. Old seeds pliable or brittle and cream-coloured. Enhance germination by stratifying seeds in moist paper or sand in refrigerator for 6-10 weeks. Sow Oct to Feb. Seedlings susceptible to fungal damage. Prick out as soon as first true leaves appear.

After fire, from seed or re-shooting from lignotuber, if present. Can be direct-sown, but establishes better from tubestock.

Useful medium-level cover in windbreaks.

Seeds eaten by cockatoos (particularly Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo). All banksias produce copious nectar, favoured by honeyeaters and lorikeets. Birds are main pollinators, and banksias provide excellent means of maintaining bird populations during flowering. Native moths, butterflies and pygmy possums are attracted to flowers as a food source.

Not generally used. Records from mid-nineteenth century note its ‘uselessness’ as a fuel.

Soft, spongy and red. Weighs little when dry. Generally unsuitable for commercial timber production due to inadequate size and spongy wood. Tends to warp severely upon drying, but can be turned if seasoned carefully.

Flower cones soaked in water in wooden vessels to extract sweet nectar for a drink, or sucked directly. Dry cones used as strainers.

Attractive specimen for parks and gardens. Decorative seed cones used in floral arrangements. Used in bonsai. Excess phosphorous damages or kills plants. Iron deficiency is common and shows as yellow leaves with green veins. Feed with iron chelate to rectify. Resents pruning.

Leaves produce yellow dye, with alum as a mordant. Cut flowers or foliage.