Banksia speciosa: Difference between revisions

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'''''Banksia speciosa''''', commonly known as the '''showy banksia''', is a species of large shrub or small tree in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Proteaceae]]. It occursis found on the south coast of [[Western Australia]] between [[Hopetoun, Western Australia|Hopetoun]] (3334°57′ S 120° E) and the [[GreatPoint Australian BightCulver]] (approximately 33° S 130124° E), growing on white or grey sand in [[shrubland]]. Reaching up to {{convert|8|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height, it is a single-stemmed plant that has thin leaves with prominent triangular "'teeth"' along each margin, which are {{convert|20|–|45|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|2|–|4|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} wide. The prominent cream-yellow flower spikes known as [[inflorescence]]s appear throughout the year. As they age they develop up to 20 [[Follicle (fruit)|follicles]] each that store seeds until opened by fire. Though widely occurring, the species is highly sensitive to [[Phytophthora cinnamomi|dieback]] and large populations of plants have succumbed to the disease.

Collected and described by [[Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)|Robert Brown]] in the early 19th century, ''BanksiaB. speciosa'' is classified in the [[Series (botany)|series]] ''[[Banksia ser. Banksia|Banksia]]'' within the genus. Its closest relative is ''[[Banksia baxteri|B. baxteri]]''. ''BanksiaB. speciosa'' plants are killed by [[Bushfires in Australia|bushfire]], and regenerate from seed. The flowers attract nectar- and insect-feeding birds, particularly [[honeyeater]]s, and a variety of insects. In cultivation, ''BanksiaB. speciosa'' grows well in a sunny location on well-drained soil in areas with dry summers. It cannot be grown in areas with humid summers, though it has been [[Grafting|grafted]] onto ''[[Banksia serrata]]'' or ''[[Banksia integrifolia|B. integrifolia]]''.

[[File:Speciosagdn3.JPG|thumb|left|Garden specimen in Sydney (habit), grafted onto ''[[Banksia integrifolia|B. integrifolia]]'']]

''BanksiaB. speciosa'' grows as a shrub or small tree anywhere from 1 to 6 or rarely 8&nbsp;m (4–26&nbsp;ft) high.<ref name="FloraBase"/> It has an open many-branched [[Habit (biology)|habit]], arising from a single stem or trunk with smooth grey bark. Unlike many banksias, it does not have a [[lignotuber]].<ref name="George 1981">{{cite journal | last = George | first=Alex S. | authorlinkauthor-link=Alex George (botanist) | year = 1981 | title = The Genus ''Banksia'' L.f. (Proteaceae) | journal = [[Nuytsia (journal)|Nuytsia]] | volume = 3 | issue = 3 | pages = 239–473 [329–31]| issn = 0085-4417| title-link=The genus Banksia L.f. (Proteaceae) | doi=10.58828/nuy00060 }}</ref> The plant puts on new growth, which is covered in rusty-coloured fur, in summer.<ref name = "Wrigley 1991">{{cite book | last1 = Wrigley | first1 = John | last2 = Fagg | first2 = Murray | title = Banksias, Waratahs and Grevilleas | year = 1991 | publisher = Angus & Robertson | location = Sydney, New South Wales | isbn = 0-207-17277-3|pages = 114–15}}</ref><ref name=atlas>{{cite book | last1 = Taylor | first1 = Anne | last2 = Hopper | first2 = Stephen | authorlink2author-link2 = Stephen Hopper | year=1988 | title = The Banksia Atlas |volumeissue = (Australian Flora and Fauna Series Number 8) | pages= 216–17| location = Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | publisher = Australian Government Publishing Service | isbn = 0-644-07124-9| title-link = The Banksia Atlas }}</ref> The long thin leaves are linear, 20–45&nbsp;{{convert|20|–|45|cm (8–18&nbsp;|in)|round=0.5|abbr=on}} long and 2–4&nbsp;{{convert|2|–|4|cm (0.8–1.6&nbsp;|in)|abbr=on|1}} wide. They are bordered with 20 to 42 prominent triangular lobes that have a zigzag pattern. The lobes are {{convert|1|–|2|cm|in|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} long and {{convert|1|–|2.5|cm|in|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} wide, while the V-shaped [[Sinus (botany)|sinuses]] between intrude almost to the [[wikt:midrib|midrib]] of the leaf. The [[Leaf#Margins (edge)|leaf margins]] are slightly [[wikt:recurved|recurved]]. On the underside of each lobe, there are 3–10 [[Leaf#Veins|nerves]] converging on the lobe apex. The midrib is raised on the leaf undersurface; it is covered with white hair when new but brownish hair when mature.<ref name="George 1981"/><!-- cites previous six sentences -->

The cream to yellow flower spikes, known as [[inflorescence]]s, can appear at any time of year.<ref name="George 1981"/> They arise on the ends of one- or two-year-old stems and are roughly cylindrical in shape with a domed apex,<ref name="George 1981"/><ref name = "Wrigley 1991"/> measuring {{convert|4|–|12|cm|in|abbr=on}} high and {{convert|9|–|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} wide at [[anthesis]]. Each is a compound flowering structure, with a large number of individual flowers arising out of a central woody axis.<ref name="George 1981"/> A field study on the southern [[sandplain]]s revealed an average count of 1369±79 on each spike.<ref name="witkowski91">{{cite journal|last1 = Witkowski | first1 = E.T.F. | last2 = Lamont | first2 = Byron B. | authorlink2author-link2 = Byron Lamont | last3 = Connell | first3 = S.J.|year=1991|title=Seed Bank Dynamics of Three Co-occurring Banksias in South Coastal Western Australia: The Role of Plant Age, Cockatoos, Senescence and Interfire Establishment|journal=Australian Journal of Botany|volume=39|issue=4|pages=385–97|doi=10.1071/BT9910385}}</ref> The [[perianth]] is grey-cream in bud, maturing to a more yellow or cream. The [[Gynoecium|style]] is cream and the tip of the [[pollen-presenter]] maroon. Ageing spikes are grey, with old flowers remaining on them, and develop up to 20 large red [[Follicle (fruit)|follicles]] each. Roughly oval and jutting out prominently from the spike, each follicle is {{convert|3.5|–|5|cm|in|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} long by {{convert|2|–|3|cm|in|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} wide and {{convert|2|–|3|cm|in|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} high and is covered in dense fur, red-brown initially before aging to grey. It remains closed until opened by bushfire, and contains one or two viable seeds.<ref name="George 1981"/><!-- cites previous five sentences -->

The seed is {{convert|3.7|–|4.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and fairly flattened, and is composed of the seed body proper, measuring {{convert|1|–|1.4|cm|in|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} long and {{convert|0.9|–|1.2|cm|in|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} wide, and a papery [[Glossary of botanical terms#W|wing]]. One side, termed the outer surface, is grey and the other is dark brown; on this side the seed body protrudes and is covered with tiny filaments. The seeds are separated by a dark brown [[seed separator]] that is roughly the same shape as the seeds with a depression where the seed body sits adjacent to it in the follicle. It measures {{convert|3.7|–|4.5|cm|in|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} long and {{convert|2|–|2.5|cm|in|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} wide.<ref name="George 1981"/><!-- cites previous four sentences --> The dull green [[cotyledon]]s of seedlings are wider than they are long, measuring {{convert|1.4–14|–|1.5&nbsp;|cm (0.6&nbsp;|in)|abbr=on}} across and {{convert|1.2–12|–|1.3&nbsp;|cm (0.5&nbsp;|in)|abbr=on}} long, described by [[Alex George (botanist)|Alex George]] as "broadly [[wikt:obovate|obovate]]". Each cotyledon has a {{convert|2|mm|abbr=on|adj=on|sigfig=12}} [[auricle (botany)|auricle]] at its base and has three faint nerve-like markings on its lower half. The [[hypocotyl]] is smooth and red. The seedling leaves emerge in an opposite arrangement and are deeply serrated into three triangular lobes on each side. The seedling stem is covered in white hair.<ref name="George 1981"/>

A variant from the [[Gibson, Western Australia|Gibson]] area has an upright habit and leaves.<ref name=atlas/> Otherwise, ''BanksiaB. speciosa'' shows little variation across its range. Combined with its vigour and prominence in its habitat, this has led George to speculate that it is a recent development among its relatives.<ref name="George 1981"/>

''[[Banksia baxteri]]'' resembles ''B.&nbsp;speciosa'' and co-occurs with it at the western edge of its''B. speciosa's'' range, but has shorter, wider leaves with larger lobes, shorter flower spikes and is a smaller, more open shrub.<ref name="George 1981"/>

The first botanical collector of this species may well have been [[Claude Riche]], [[naturalist]] to [[Bruni d'Entrecasteaux]]'s 1791 expedition in search of the lost ships of [[Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse]]. During a visit to [[Esperance Bay]], Riche explored an area in which ''B.&nbsp;speciosa'' is extremely common. However, he got lost and was forced to abandon his collections.<ref>{{cite book | last = Duyker | first = Edward | authorlinkauthor-link=Edward Duyker |origyearorig-year = 2003 |year= 2004 | title = Citizen Labillardière: A Naturalist's Life in Revolution and Exploration (1755–1834) | publisher = Miegunyah/Melbourne University Press | location = Melbourne, Victoria | isbn = 0-522-85160-6 | page = 135}}</ref><!-- cites previous three sentences --> The species was eventually collected by [[Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)|Robert Brown]] in 1802, and published by him in 1810.<ref name=apni/><ref name="brown1810">{{cite journal|last=Brown|first=Robert|authorlinkauthor-link=Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)|year=1810|title=On the Natural Order of Plants Called Proteaceae|journal=Transactions of the Linnean Society of London|volume=10|issue=1|pages=210|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/757375#page/219/mode/1up|access-date=20 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011192454/http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/757375#page/219/mode/1up|archive-date=11 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Alex George selected an 1802 specimen collected at [[Lucky Bay]] to be the [[lectotype]] in 1981.<ref name="George 1981"/> An early [[common name]] was handsome banksia.<ref name="curtis">{{cite journal|editor-last=Hooker|editor-first=William J.|editor-link=William Jackson Hooker|year=1831|title=Banksia Speciosa. Handsome Banksia|journal=Curtis's Botanical Magazine|volume=58|page=3052|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YOYWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA3052|access-date=23 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514234621/https://books.google.com/books?id=YOYWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA3052|archive-date=14 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Common names include showy banksia and ricrac banksia, from the zigzag shape of its long thin leaves.<ref name = "Wrigley 1991"/>

Robert Brown recorded 31 species of ''Banksia'' in his 1810 work ''[[Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen]]'', and in his [[Brown's taxonomic arrangement of Banksia|taxonomic arrangement]], placed the taxon in the [[subgenus]] ''[[Banksia verae]]'', the "True Banksias", because the inflorescence is a typical ''Banksia'' flower spike.<ref name="Brown 1810">{{cite book | last = Brown | first = Robert | year = 1810 | title = Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen | publisher = Richard Taylor and Company | location = London, United Kingdom | language = Latinla | page = 396 | url = https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2954552#page/264/mode/1up | access-date = 20 February 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160610134235/http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2954552#page/264/mode/1up | archive-date = 10 June 2016 | url-status = live }}</ref> By the time [[Carl Meissner]] published [[Meissner's taxonomic arrangement of Banksia|his 1856 arrangement]] of the genus, there were 58 described ''Banksia'' species. Meissner divided Brown's ''Banksia verae'', which had been renamed ''Eubanksia'' by [[Stephan Endlicher]] in 1847,<ref name="George 1981"/> into four [[Series (botany)|series]] based on leaf properties. He placed ''B.&nbsp;speciosa'' in the series [[Banksia ser. Dryandroideae|''Dryandroideae'']].<ref>{{cite book | last = Meissner | first = Carl | authorlinkauthor-link = Carl Meissner | year = 1856 | chapter = Proteaceae | editor-last = de Candolle | editor-first = A. P | editor-link = Augustin Pyramus de Candolle | title = Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis, Pars Decima Quarta | location = Paris, France | publisher = Sumptibus Victoris Masson | language = Latinla | volume = 14 | page = 464 | chapter-url = http://test.botanicus.org/item/31753003013338 | url-status = dead | archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141213080038/http://test.botanicus.org/item/31753003013338 | archivedatearchive-date = 2014-12-13 }}</ref>

[[George Bentham]] published a thorough revision of ''Banksia'' in his landmark publication ''[[Flora Australiensis]]'' in 1870. In [[Bentham's taxonomic arrangement of Banksia|Bentham's arrangement]], the number of recognised ''Banksia'' species was reduced from 60 to 46. Bentham defined four [[Section (botany)|sections]] based on leaf, [[style (botany)|style]] and pollen-presenter characters. ''BanksiaB. speciosa'' was placed in section ''Orthostylis''.<ref name="Bentham 1870">{{cite encyclopedia | last = Bentham | first = George | authorlinkauthor-link = George Bentham | year = 1870 | title = ''Banksia'' | encyclopedia = [[s:Flora Australiensis|Flora Australiensis]]: Volume 5: Myoporineae to Proteaceae | pages = 541–62 | location = London, United Kingdom| publisher = L. Reeve & Co| title-link = s:Flora Australiensis/Volume V/CIV. Proteaceae/28. Banksia }}</ref>

In 1891, German botanist [[Otto Kuntze]] challenged the generic name ''Banksia'' [[Carolus Linnaeus the Younger|L.f.]], on the grounds that the name ''Banksia'' had previously been published in 1775 as ''Banksia'' [[Johann Reinhold Forster|J.R.Forst]] & [[Georg Forster|G.Forst]], referring to the genus now known as ''[[Pimelea]]''. Kuntze proposed ''Sirmuellera'' as an alternative, republishing ''B.&nbsp;speciosa'' as ''Sirmuellera speciosa''.<ref name="Kuntz1891">{{cite book|last=Kuntze|first=Otto|authorlinkauthor-link=Otto Kuntze|title=Revisio generum plantarum:vascularium omnium atque cellularium multarum secundum leges nomenclaturae internationales cum enumeratione plantarum exoticarum in itinere mundi collectarum|publisher=A. Felix|location=Leipzig, Germany|year=1891|volume=2|pages=582|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4004#page/208/mode/1up|access-date=20 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510094432/https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4004#page/208/mode/1up|archive-date=10 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The challenge failed, and ''Banksia'' L.f. was formally [[Conserved name|conserved]].<ref name="George 1981"/>

He thought its closest relative was clearly ''Banksia baxteri'' based on their similar appearance, noting the two overlapped in their distribution.<ref name="George 1981"/>

[[Kevin Thiele]] and [[Pauline Ladiges]] published a new arrangement for the genus in 1996; their [[morphology (biology)|morphological]] [[Cladistics|cladistic]] analysis yielded a [[cladogram]] significantly different from George's arrangement. [[Thiele and Ladiges' taxonomic arrangement of Banksia|Thiele and Ladiges' arrangement]] retained ''B.&nbsp;speciosa'' in series ''Banksia'', placing it in [[Banksia subser. Cratistylis|''B.''&nbsp;subser. ''Cratistylis'']] along with ''B.&nbsp;baxteri'' as its [[Sister group|sister]] taxon and seven other Western Australian species.<ref name="Thiele 1996">{{cite journal | last1 = Thiele | first1 = Kevin | authorlink1author-link1 = Kevin Thiele | last2 = Ladiges | first2 = Pauline Y. | authorlink2author-link2 = Pauline Ladiges | year = 1996 | title = A Cladistic Analysis of ''Banksia'' (Proteaceae) | journal = [[Australian Systematic Botany]] | volume = 9 | issue = 5 | pages = 661–733 | doi = 10.1071/SB9960661}}</ref> This arrangement stood until 1999, when George effectively reverted to his 1981 arrangement in his monograph for the ''[[Flora of Australia (series)|Flora of Australia]]'' series.<ref name="George 1999">{{cite encyclopedia | last = George | first=Alex S. | year = 1999 | title = ''Banksia'' | editor-last = Wilson | editor-first=Annette | encyclopedia = [[Flora of Australia (series)|Flora of Australia]] | volume = Volume 17B: Proteaceae 3: ''Hakea'' to ''Dryandra'' | pages = 175–251 | publisher = CSIRO Publishing / [[Australian Biological Resources Study]] |location=Collingwood, Victoria |isbn = 0-643-06454-0}}</ref> ''B.&nbsp;speciosa''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s placement within ''Banksia'' according to ''Flora of Australia'' is as follows:

In 2002, a [[molecular phylogenetics|molecular]] study by [[Austin Mast]] again showed ''BanksiaB. speciosa'' and ''B.&nbsp;baxteri'' to be each other's closest relatives, but they were only distantly related to other members of the series ''Banksia''. Instead, their next closest relative turned out to be the distinctive ''[[Banksia coccinea]]''.<ref name="Mast 2002">{{cite journal | first1 = Austin R. | last1 = Mast | authorlink1author-link1 = Austin Mast | last2 = Givnish | first2 = Thomas J. | authorlink2author-link2 = Thomas J. Givnish | year = 2002 | title = Historical Biogeography and the Origin of Stomatal Distributions in ''Banksia'' and ''Dryandra'' (Proteaceae) Based on their cpDNA Phylogeny | journal = American Journal of Botany | volume = 89 | issue = 8 | pages = 1311–23 | url = http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/89/8/1311 | doi = 10.3732/ajb.89.8.1311 | issn = 0002-9122 | pmid = 21665734 | doi-access-date = 29 April 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060612205444/http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/89/8/1311 | archive-date = 12 June 2006 | url-status = livefree }}</ref>

''BanksiaB. speciosa'' occurs on coastal dunes and sandplains in the [[Esperance Plains]] and [[Mallee (biogeographic region)|Mallee]] [[biogeography|biogeographic]] regions on the south coast of Western Australia,<ref name="FloraBase">{{FloraBase | name = ''Banksia speciosa'' R.Br | id = 1850}}</ref> from East Mount Barren in the [[Fitzgerald River National Park]] and the vicinity of [[Hopetoun, Western Australia|Hopetoun]] eastwards to [[Israelite Bay]], generally within {{convert|50&nbsp;|km (31&nbsp;mi)|-1|abbr=on}} of the coast. The range extends inland to Mount Ragged and {{convert|25&nbsp;|km (16&nbsp;mi)|abbr=on}} southwest of [[Grass Patch, Western Australia|Grass Patch]]. There is an outlying population to the east at [[Point Culver]] on the [[Great Australian Bight]].<ref name=atlas/>

''BanksiaB. speciosa'' grows on flat or gently sloping ground on deep white or grey sand. It is often the dominant shrub in shrubland, commonly found with such species as ''[[Lambertia inermis]]'',<ref name="George 1981"/> ''[[Banksia pulchella]]'', and ''[[Banksia petiolaris|B. petiolaris]]''.<ref name=atlas/>

''BanksiaB. speciosa'' is [[serotiny|serotinous]], that is, it has an [[Canopy seed bank|aerial seed bank]] in its [[Canopy (biology)|canopy]] in the form of the follicles of the old flower spikes. These are opened by fire and release seed in large numbers, which germinate and grow after rain. Seed can last for many years; old spikes 11 to 12 years old have been found to have 50% viable seed.<ref>{{cite journal|first1=Byron B. | last1=Lamont | first2=D. C. | last2=Le Maitre | first3=R. M. | last3=Cowling | first4=N. J. | last4=Enright|year=1991|title=Canopy Seed Storage in Woody Plants|journal=The Botanical Review|volume=57|issue=4|pages= 277–317 [284] |doi=10.1007/BF02858770| s2cid=37245625 }}</ref> Flower spikes appear to have similar numbers of follicles regardless of the age of the parent plant. Young plants begin flowering three years after regenerating from bushfire and store progressively larger numbers of old flowerheads (and hence seed) in the canopy. In one study, decade-old plants averaged around 3.5 old cones, whereas 21-year-old plants had 105, and were calculated as having over 900 viable seeds per plant. Plants appear to have a life span of at least 40 years, as healthy and vigorous individuals of this age are known.<ref name="witkowski91"/> An experimental burn and monitoring of resultant seedling germination and growth showed ''B.&nbsp;speciosa'' seeds, though numerous, had poor rates of establishment but that seedlings were able to access water more easily and had higher rates of survival after two years than co-occurring ''Banksia'' species. Though this suggested ''B.&nbsp;speciosa'' might outcompete its [[conspecific]]s, the authors of the study noted that there could be other factors not accounted for in its natural environment.<ref name="lamont 1995">{{cite journal|last1=Lamont | first1=Byron B. | last2=Witkowski | first2=E.T.F|year=1995|title=A Test for Lottery Recruitment among Four ''Banksia'' Species Based on Their Demography and Biological Attributes|journal=Oecologia|volume=101|issue=3|pages=299–308|jstor=4220888|doi=10.1007/BF00328815| pmid=28307050 | bibcode=1995Oecol.101..299L | s2cid=24306122 }}</ref>

''BanksiaB. speciosa'' is extremely sensitive to dieback caused by ''[[Phytophthora cinnamomi]]'' and numbers in [[Cape Le Grand National Park|Cape Le Grand]] and [[Cape Arid National Park]]s have been drastically reduced as whole populations of plants have perished after exposure.<ref name=atlas/> It is an [[indicator species]] for the presence of the disease.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/pdf/projects/dieback/dieback_indicators.pdf |title=Common Indicator Species for the Presence of Disease caused by ''Phytophthora cinnamomi'' |publisher=Government of Western Australia |accessdateaccess-date=1 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319210839/http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/pdf/projects/dieback/dieback_indicators.pdf |archivedatearchive-date=19 March 2011 }}</ref> Nursery plants in Italy perished from root and basal stem rot from the pathogen ''Phytophthora'' taxon ''niederhauserii''.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Cacciola |first1=S. O. | last2=Scibetta | first2=S. | last3=Martini | first3=P. | last4=Rizza | first4=C. | last5=Pane | first5=A. |year=2009|title=''Phytophthora'' taxon ''niederhauserii'', a New Root and Crown Rot Pathogen of ''Banksia'' spp. in Italy|journal=Plant Disease|volume=93|issue=11|pages=12–16|doi=10.1094/PDIS-93-11-1216C|pmid=30754609 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

A fast-growing and attractive plant, ''BanksiaB. speciosa'' grows readily in a sunny location in dry climates on well-drained soil, but does poorly in areas of humid summer climate, such as Australia's east coast. It has been [[Grafting|grafted]] successfully onto ''[[Banksia serrata]]'' and ''[[Banksia integrifolia|B.&nbsp;integrifolia]]'' to enable cultivation in these areas.<ref name = "Wrigley 1991"/><ref name=Collins>{{cite book | last1 = Collins | first1 = Kevin | last2 = Collins | first2 = Kathy | last3 = George | first3 = Alex S. | pages = 48, 98–99 |title = Banksias | publisher = Bloomings Books | location = Melbourne, Victoria | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-1-876473-68-6 }}</ref> Seeds do not require any treatment, and take 27 to 41 days to [[germinate]].<ref name="Sweedman 2006">{{cite book | last1=Sweedman | first1=Luke | last2=Merritt | first2=David | year = 2006 | title = Australian Seeds: A Guide to their Collection, Identification and Biology | url=https://archive.org/details/australianseedsg00auth | url-access=limited | publisher = CSIRO Publishing| location= Collingwood, Victoria | isbn = 0-643-09298-6 | page = [https://archive.org/details/australianseedsg00auth/page/n219 203]}}</ref> A specimen flowered in a greenhouse in the [[Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh]] in 1830.<ref name="curtis"/> ''BanksiaB. speciosa'' is an important [[cut flower]] crop.<ref name=Collins/> It was one of several species considered for commercial cropping in [[Tenerife]], and trials showed that seedlings were moderately [[halotolerance|tolerant to salinity]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Rodriguez-Perez | first=J. A.|year=2009|title=Effect of Salinity on Seedling Emergence of Seven ''Banksia'' Species Cultivated for Cut Flower and Foliage|journal=Journal of Plant Nutrition|volume=32|issue=9|pages=1540–50|doi=10.1080/01904160903093844| s2cid=84912264}}</ref>

{{Commons category|Banksia speciosa|''Banksia speciosa''}}

{{Wikispecies|Banksia speciosa|''Banksia speciosa''}}