Banksia sclerophylla

Banksia scelerophylla is a shrub with spreading, hairy stems, that typically grows to a height of 60 cm (24 in) and forms a lignotuber. The leaves are linear and pinnatifid, 60–130 mm (2.4–5.1 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide on a petiole 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) long. There are between ten and thirty triangular lobes on each side of the leaves. The flowers are yellow and arranged in a head of between forty and seventy on the ends of the stems with pale, lance-shaped involucral bracts covered with rust-coloured hairs, and up to 15 mm (0.59 in) long at the base of the head. The perianth is 19–22 mm (0.75–0.87 in) long and the pistil 25–27 mm (0.98–1.06 in) long and gently curved. Flowering occurs from September to October and the follicles are elliptical, 7–9 mm (0.28–0.35 in) long and 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) wide.[2][3]

This species was first formally described in 1855 by Carl Meissner who gave it the name Dryandra sclerophylla and published the description in Hooker's Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Miscellany from specimens collected by James Drummond.[4][5] The specific epithet (sclerophylla) is from ancient Greek word-elements meaning "hard" and "-leaved".[6]

In 2007 Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele transferred all dryandras to the genus Banksia and renamed this species Banksia sclerophylla.[7][8]

Banksia sclerophylla grows in kwongan between the Alexander Morrison National Park, Mount Lesueur and Badgingarra.[3]

This banksia is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[2]

• Cavanagh, Tony; Pieroni, Margaret (2006). The Dryandras. Melbourne: Australian Plants Society (SGAP Victoria); Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. ISBN 1-876473-54-1.