banksia

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


«A genus of Australian shrubs withumbellate flowers, – – now cultivated as ornamental shrubs inEurope.» (`O.E.D.') Called after Mr. Banks, naturalist of the Endeavour, afterwards Sir Joseph Banks. The so-called Australian Honeysuckle (q.v.). See also Bottle-brush.

1790. J. White, `Voyage to New South Wales,' p. 221:

«The different species of banksia. The finest new genushitherto found in New Holland has been destined by Linnaeus,with great propriety, to transmit to posterity the name of SirJoseph Banks, who first discovered it in his celebrated voyageround the world.»

1798. D. Collins, `Account of English Colony in New SouthWales,' p. 557:

«A few berries, the yam and fern root, the flowers of thedifferent banksia, and at times some honey, make up the wholevegetable catalogue.»

1829. Vigors and Horsfield, `Transactions of the LinnaeanSociety,' vol. xv. p. 312:

«Scrubs where the different species of banksia are found, theflowers of which I (Mr. Caley) have reason to think afford itsustenance during winter.»

1833. C. Sturt, `South Australia,' vol. ii. c. ii. p. 30:

«Some sandhills . . . crowned by banksias.»

1845. J. Q. Balfour, `Sketch of New South Wales,' p. 39:

«Many different species of banksia grow in great plenty in theneighbourhood of Sydney, and from the density of their foliageare very ornamental.»

1846. L. Leichhardt, quoted by J. D. Lang, `Cooksland,' p. 331:

«The table-land is covered by forests of stringy-bark, ofmelaleuca-gum, and banksia.»

1851. `Quarterly Review,' Dec., p. 40:

«In this they will find an extremely rich collection ofbottle-brush-flowered, zigzag-leaved, grey-tinted, odd-lookingthings, to most eyes rather strange than beautiful,notwithstanding that one of them is named Banksiaspeciosa. They are the `Botany Bays' of old-fashionedgardeners, but are more in the shrub and tree line than that offlowering pots. Banksia Solandei will remind them toturn to their `Cook's Voyages' when they get home, to read howpoor Dr. Solander got up a mountain and was heartily glad to getdown again.»

1877. F. v. Mueller, `Botanic Teachings,' p. 46:

«The banksias are of historic interest, inasmuch as the genuswas dedicated already by the younger Linne in 1781 to SirJoseph Banks, from whom the Swedish naturalist receivedbranchlets of those species, which in Captain Cook's firstvoyage more than 100 years ago (1770) were gathered by Banks atBotany-Bay and a few other places of the east coast ofAustralia.»

1887. J. Bonwick, `Romance of the Wool Trade,' p. 228:

«A banksia plain, with its collection ofbottle-brush-like-flowers, may have its charms for a botanist,but its well-known sandy ground forbids the hope of goodgrasses.»