Banksia sessilis- Parrot Bush

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Banksia sessilis- Parrot Bush
Banksia sessilis- Parrot Bush

Banksia sessilis, commonly known as parrot bush, is a species of shrub or tree in the plant genus Banksia of the family Proteaceae. It had been known as Dryandra sessilis until 2007, when the genus Dryandra was sunk into Banksia. Widespread throughout southwest Western Australia, it is found on sandy soils over laterite or limestone, often as an understorey plant in open forest, woodland or shrubland. Encountered as a shrub or small tree up to 6 m (20 ft) in height, it has prickly dark green leaves and dome-shaped cream-yellow flowerheads. Flowering from winter through to late spring, it provides a key source of food—both the nectar and the insects it attracts—for honeyeaters in the cooler months, and species diversity is reduced in areas where there is little or no parrot bush occurring. Several species of honeyeater, some species of native bee, and the European honey bee seek out and consume the nectar, while the long-billed black cockatoo and Australian ringneck eat the seed. The life cycle of Banksia sessilis is adapted to regular bushfires. Killed by fire and regenerating by seed afterwards, each shrub generally produces many flowerheads and a massive amount of seed. It can recolonise disturbed areas, and may grow in thickets.

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Taken on: September 8, 2012
Tags: Everybody's photos tagged with Banksia sessilis Banksia sessilis
Sets appears in:   • 2012-9 Western Australia   
Camera: Olympus XZ-1, f/4.0, 1/800 sec, 6mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)
Camera: Olympus XZ-1
Aperture: f/4.0
Exposure Time: 0.001 sec (1/800)
Focal Length: 6mm
ISO: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Auto, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode: Auto
Metering Mode: Center-weighted average
White Balance: Auto
Color Space: sRGB
Software: Aperture 3.2.3
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