Among the Banksias

I returned to Kings Park in Perth today, mainly to indulge my passion for Banksias. Although a number of Banksia species grow in eastern Australia there are a great many that are only found naturally in Western Australia. They are very spectacular and so well-adapted to the western soils and climate that they are very hard to grow in the eastern states.

The main photo is Banksia hookeriana.  The species was named after prominent British botanist Sir James Hooker who was, for 20 years, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

In the collage (extra) the large photo is Banksia menziesii. The others, from the top, are B. media, B. ashbyi and B. hookeriana again.