Coast banksia
Pollinated by the pygmy possum.
Copyright Egon Krogsgaard
Coast banksia is a hardy plant that is used both as a garden plant and along the roadside in Australia. Because it can withstand splashes of seawater, it is often planted near the coast.
Coast banksia has pale yellow flowers that sit very close together in a cylinder up to 15 cm high. The flowers produce nectar and are visited by insects, birds, and mammals alike.
One of the visiting animals is the world's smallest marsupial, the eastern pygmy-opossum, which is only 5-10 cm long and weighs less than 50 g.
Experiments have shown that the small pygmy opossum and birds are the most important animals for the pollination of coast banksia. If they are not present, the plant only produces very few seeds.
Facts:
- Greenhouse location: Mediterranean House
- Danish name: Kyst-banksia
- Latin name: Banksia integrifolia
- Family: Protea family / Proteaceae
- Natural habitat: Eastern Australia and Tasmania