Banksia serrata
| Saw banksia | |
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| Tree of Banksia serrata at Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Banksia |
| Subgenus: | Banksia subg. Banksia |
| Section: | Banksia sect. Banksia |
| Series: | Banksia ser. Banksia |
| Species: | B. serrata |
| Binomial name | |
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Banksia serrata L.f. |
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| Range of Banksia serrata in green | |
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Banksia serrata, commonly known as old man banksia, saw banksia, saw-tooth banksia and red honeysuckle, is a species of woody shrub or tree of the genus Banksia in the family Proteaceae. Native to the east coast of Australia, it is found from Queensland through to Victoria with outlying populations on Tasmania and Flinders Island. Commonly growing as a gnarled tree up to 16 m (50 ft) in height, it can be much smaller in more exposed areas. This Banksia species has wrinkled grey bark, shiny dark green serrated leaves and large yellow or greyish-yellow flower spikes appearing over summer. The flower spikes, or "inflorescences" turn grey as they age and pollinated flowers develop into large grey woody seed pods called follicles.
It is one of the four original Banksia species collected by Sir Joseph Banks in 1770, and one of four species published in 1782 as part of Carolus Linnaeus the Younger's original description of the genus. There are no recognised varieties, although it is closely related to Banksia aemula. It grows exclusively in sandy soils, and is usually the dominant plant in scrubland or low woodland. Banksia serrata is pollinated by and provides food for a wide array of vertebrate and invertebrate animals in the autumn and winter months. It is an important source of food for honeyeaters. It is a common plant of parks and gardens.
Banksia serrata usually grows as a gnarled and misshapen tree up to 16 m (50 ft) tall, although in some coastal habitats it grows as a shrub of 1–3 m (3–10 ft), and on exposed coastal cliffs it has even been recorded as a prostrate shrub. As a tree it usually has a single, stout trunk with warty, grey bark up to 3 cm thick. Trunks are often black from past bushfires, and ooze a red sap when injured. New growth appears in spring, summer and autumn. New branchlets are hairy, remaining so for two to three years. Leaves are usually crowded together at the upper end of branches, giving the canopy a thin, sparse appearance. The leaves themselves are dark glossy green above and light green below, 7 to 20 centimetres (2 3⁄4 to 7 3⁄4 in) (rarely up to 26 centimetres (10 1⁄4 in)) long by 2 to 4 cm (3⁄4 to 1 5⁄8 in) (rarely up to 4.5 cm (1 3⁄4 in)) wide, and oblong to obovate in shape. The leaf margins are serrated, except near the base, with lobes between 1 and 3 millimetres (1⁄16 and 1⁄8 in) deep.
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Wikipedia