banksia

American  

[bangk-see-uh] / ˈbæŋk si ə /

noun

1. any Australian shrub or tree of the genus Banksia, having alternate leaves and dense, cylindrical flower heads.

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banksia British  

/ ˈbæŋksɪə /

noun

1. any shrub or tree of the Australian genus Banksia , having long leathery evergreen leaves and dense cylindrical heads of flowers that are often red or yellowish: family Proteaceae See also honeysuckle

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Etymology

Origin of banksia

1782; < New Latin; named after Sir Joseph Banks; -ia

Example Sentences

Her eyes light up as she enthuses about the banksia species from her native Australia.

From BBC • Oct. 19, 2025

With its cargo of humans reaching arms and legs toward the sunset, it was reminiscent of the needlelike petals of the banksia flowers.

From Washington Post • May 26, 2022

While the pincushion Protea flower was recognizable from grocery story bouquets, other examples, such as the furry, pinkish teddy bear banksia, seemed straight out of science fiction.

From Washington Post • May 26, 2022

Then there’s the large “Muppet-mouth”-shaped cones of the banksia trees, so thick that they look like a herd of hedgehogs hugging the branches.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2021

This peculiarity has been remarked of other plants, besides the species of banksia.

From Journals of Two Expeditions into the Interior of New South Wales by Oxley, John