page_title: Banksia serrata
section_title: Uses
hierarchical_section_title: Banksia serrata / Uses
caption_attribution_description: English: Banksia serrata 'Pygmy Possum' (cultivated, labelled) , Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, Victoria, Australia
context_page_description: Banksia serrata, commonly known as old man banksia, saw banksia, saw-tooth banksia or red honeysuckle and as wiriyagan by the Cadigal people, 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 to Victoria with outlying populations on Tasmania and Flinders Island. Commonly growing as a gnarled tree up to 16 m 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.
  B. serrata 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. Throughout its range, it grows exclusively in sandy soils, and is usually the dominant plant in scrubland or low woodland.
caption: Banksia 'Pygmy Possum' at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
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