BANKSIA SERRATA; WEIRD AND WONDERFUL!

Specimens  of  of the Australian native Banksia serrata  were  collected by Sir Joseph Banks in  1770 and later named for him. They are funny, gnarled trees that look ancient long before their time (rather like weather beaten Australian gardeners). Serrata refers to the  tough, saw edged  leaves;

Their knobbled trunks are positively creepy.

And when an old B. serrata dies, it will keep you warm in winter.

THE BANKSIA TREES

The banksia trees, the banksia trees

Are grisly goblin men,

Who hobble on their gnarly knees

Away from human ken

And with the twilight’s wizardries

Come creeping back again.

By ERNESTINE HILL

In spring the trees  produce spectacular flowers; soft, velvety cones.

As  the florets open and nectar forms, honey eating birds such as the Eastern Spinebills and wattle birds visit.

Even the yellow tailed black cockatoos munch on them….a bit of a change from  rock hard pinecones!

The transformation continues as the flowers dry off.

Within the dry, brown  bristles, individual  pods  start to ripen. Eventually, ‘Big Bad Banksia Men’  emerge; made famous by the much loved author/illustrator May Gibbs. In the image below the Banksia Men  are plotting to kidnap poor little gumnut babies.

Oh dear looks as though one little gumnut is in serious trouble.

In the photo below the woody pods have finally burst open to release the wafer thin seeds.

Those giant cockies find the seeds easily enough.

I must say I do love the banksias; such tough Aussie trees. Here in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales they survive frost, snow, summer heat  and even  fire.

The extraordinary  seed capsules  can carved  into all manner of shapes.  I have  a banksia bell, for my Christmas tree.

Of course banksia craft is not new. Back in 1929 Mr Charles Hewitt was making odd, giant beaked birds from the cones.

Note the worm (Trove)

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