Banksia serrata #5 - a photo on Flickriver

Banksia serrata #5

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Proteaceae - Australia: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania & Flinders Is.
Old Man Banksia, Saw Banksia, Sawtooth Banksia
Shown: Detail of mature "cone" displaying numerous seed-containing follicles

"Banksia serrata usually grows as a gnarled and misshapen tree up to 15 metres tall, although in some coastal habitats it grows as a shrub of one to three metres, and on exposed coastal cliffs it has even been recorded as a prostrate shrub. As a tree, it usually has a single, stout trunk with the rough grey bark characteristic of Banksia. The fire-retardant bark itself can be up to six centimetres thick and is cork-like in texture. Trunks are often black from past bushfires, and ooze a red sap when injured. The leaves a dark glossy green above and light green below, eight to twenty centimetres long, and two to four centimetres wide. Except near the base of the leaf, the margins are serrated with lobes between one and three millimetres deep. Leaves occur crowded together at the upper end of branches, giving the canopy a thin, sparse appearance. The flowers are a silvery grey colour, with cream or golden styles, and occur in Banksia's distinctive cylindrical flower spikes. "Cones" may have up to 30 follicles, and usually appear hairy due to the retention of old withered flower parts. This tree also possesses a lignotuber, which is an underground structure that stores energy that the plant can use to regenerate after severe bushfire. The species is not to be confused with B. aemula, which has slightly smaller anthers." (Wikipedia)

For a full discussion of the genus Banksia--and its extraordinary flowering cycle:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksia

Additional views:
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Photographed in San Francisco Botanical Garden - San Francisco, California

Some rights reserved

Taken on: August 24, 2009

Tags:

Tree

Fruit

Follicle

Proteaceae

Banksia serrata

Old Man Banksia

Saw Banksia

Sawtooth Banksia

Queensland

New South Wales

Victoria

Tasmania

Flinders Island

Australia

San Francisco Botanical Garden

San Francisco, California

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Sets appears in: • Proteaceae • San Francisco Botanical Garden

Groups appears in: • Botany • Natural Macros more » • UBCBG Botany Photo of the Day • Plant Taxonomy • Australian flowers - plants - trees • Botanicals • Proteaceae • Australian flowers: Banksia • The World Up-Close (Nature Macro) • San Francisco Botanical Garden and Arboretum • Field Guide to Trees of the World • Angiosperms, Gymnosperms, Fungi, Pteridophytes, Brachyophytes, e • Field Guide: Australian Native Plants « less

Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ50, f/8.0, 1/20 sec, 45.5mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Panasonic DMC-FZ50
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.05 sec (1/20)
Focal Length:	45.5mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	-1 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Contrast:	Low
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0
Show full info

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