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

Casuarinae and banksia growing on grassy slopes were the next marks of a different country from that of the swamps, and at less than a mile from this point we came upon the river.

From Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia, Volume 2 by Mitchell, Thomas