Historic Banksia

Banksia ericifolia, or Heath-leaved Banksia, is a local species. This one grows on public land not far from our house. 

Banksias are named after Sir Joseph Banks, the British naturalist who accompanied Captain Cook on the Endeavour voyage in 1768-71. In April 1770 the Endeavour called at what Cook named Botany Bay, right where Sydney airport is now located. Banks, and his Swedish botanist companion Daniel Solander, collected specimens of 4 species of plants that were later named after him. This was one of them.