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Definition of banksia

banksia

/ˈbæŋk.si.ə/
bank · si · a
Plural:banksias
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banksia Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any of various Australian evergreen shrubs and trees of the genus Banksia (family Proteaceae), cultivated and admired for their large, dense, cylindrical flower spikes composed of hundreds of tiny tubular blossoms in shades of yellow, orange, or red, which mature into woody, cone-like fruiting structures.

Example

"The golden flower spikes of the coast banksia attract honeyeaters and other nectar-feeding birds throughout the Australian winter."

2

A vigorous, thornless climbing rose (Rosa banksiae) native to central and western China, bearing dense clusters of small, fragrant white or pale yellow blossoms in early spring.

Example

"A yellow banksia rose cascaded over the stone pergola, filling the courtyard with a faint scent of violets."

• Nearby Words

bankroller
bankrupt
bankruptcy
banksia
bankside
bannable
banner

Word Origin & Etymology

Named in 1782 by Carl Linnaeus the Younger in honor of the English naturalist Sir Joseph Banks, who collected the first specimens of the genus in Australia during Captain James Cook's 1770 expedition.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Banksia. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/banksia
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