Banksia

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Banksia Temporal range: Paleogene–Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Banksia serrata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Proteales
Family:	Proteaceae
Subfamily:	Grevilleoideae
Tribe:	Banksieae
Genus:	Banksia L.f.
Type species
Banksia serrata
Diversity
About 170 species
Distribution of Banksia within Australia
Synonyms[1]
Dryandra R.Br. Hemiclidia R.Br. Isostylis (R.Br.) Spach Josephia Salisb. ex Knight Sirmuellera Kuntze

Banksia is a genus of around 170 species of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae.^[1] These Australian wildflowers and popular garden plants are easily recognised by their characteristic flower spikes, and woody fruiting "cones" and heads.^[2]: 1 Banksias range in size from prostrate woody shrubs to trees up to 30 metres (100 ft) tall. They are found in a wide variety of landscapes: sclerophyll forest, (occasionally) rainforest, shrubland, and some more arid landscapes, though not in Australia's deserts.

Heavy producers of nectar, banksias are a vital part of the food chain in the Australian bush. They are an important food source for nectarivorous animals, including birds, bats, rats, possums, stingless bees and a host of invertebrates. Further, they are of economic importance to Australia's nursery and cut flower industries. However, these plants are threatened by a number of processes including land clearing, frequent burning and disease, and a number of species are rare and endangered.