Silver Banksia

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Silver Banksia - Cathy Powers | Silver Banksia - Cathy Powers | Silver Banksia - Russell Best via NatureShare | Silver Banksia - Russell Best via NatureShare

Banksia marginata

Shrub or a tree to 12 m tall. Thin, brown bark which is occasionally thicker on taller trees. Leaves are dark green on the upperside and white and hairy on the underside. Leaf margins are tooth-shaped. Pale yellow inflorescences arranged in pairs and densely packed into cylindrical cone-shaped spikes.

Details
Flora Type
Trees
Distinctive Features

Notch on the end of each leaf tip. Black triangular seeds.
Biology

Inflorescences have up to 1000 flowers that open sequentially over several weeks. Pollination by nectar feeding birds, also bees and other insects and small mammals such as the Feathertail Glider, Eastern Pygmy Possum and Brown Antechinus.
Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Feb-Jul
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Proteales
Family
Proteaceae
Genus
Banksia
Species
marginata

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

The seed is held in follicles and may sometimes be released only under high temperatures such as during bushfires. The flowercones of some species of Banksia was a source of nectar for Aboriginal people, and the dry flower cone was used as a strainer.

Interesting Facts
Native Status
Native