Swamp Banksia

How we envy Western Australia for its impressive variety of Banksias, many of these known to Us Easterners only from botany books, cut flowers, or of course TV nature programmes. But while our part of the continent has a mere double-handful of Banksia species, these have their own individuality: one, in particular, being immediately recognised even by the 'botanically challenged.'

This is of course the Swamp Banksia (Banksia robur), which is found only in coastal Queensland and NSW. Unmistakeable for any other plant - let alone another Banksia species - B. robur makes a good 'starter kit' when introducing members of Rambling Groups to the mysteries of Protaceae. Even at a distance a specimen is readily identified by the large (up to 30cm long) serrated leaves, and - in season - the strange, blackish-green of the early stage flowering spikes. No other local Banksia has that eye-catching hue of the immature flower phase.

Later on this 'conversation piece' colour progresses through yellowy-green to the typical brown 'whiskers' of end-stage flower. Here I'm reminded of an incident years back, while walking through Mooloolah River National Park (Sunshine Coast) with a rather nervous friend. We were both a bit wary when hailed by a motor bike rider in full gear. He was, it turned out, an interstate visitor bored with the surf scene, and only wanted to know 'What those black flowers with the big leaves' could be!

The natural habitat for B. robur is open swamp. On unspoiled coastal wildflower plains (the Wallum Heath country) the species often shares an area with rushes, grass trees, Swamp Bottlebrush - and occasionally, Christmas Bells. Folk in search of the elusive Bell have been lured into human-unfriendly, boggy terrain by the bright orange new leaves of a Swamp Banksia!

Away from the typical heathland, quite large patches of B. robur will be found in marshy areas near open woodland. The plants usually reach up to 2m high, though in some areas can be much taller. I've seen specimens back of Tewantin where a lower branch was strong enough to be sat upon - admittedly with some care! And, nearer to home, there's a large specimen in a garden near Cocchie's Morwong Beach - and nowhere near a wet area . In general appearance this remarkable shrub has the size and form of your average Frangipani, so is usually overlooked by passers-by.

So obviously the adaptable Swamp Banksia doesn't need a marsh - or even wet feet - to survive. They do well in the home patch, even in median strips on busy roads. And, in the wild, have the capacity to regenerate after bushfires - but not, sadly, to withstand the impact of encroaching suburbia.

I was recently fortunate enough to be shown the complete 3 volumes of Celia Rossow's magnificent Banksia prints. Her representation of B. robur doesn't please everyone, but I think she's caught the almost uncanny impact of this distinctive species at the new flower phase. Maybe, if our bike rider had come by at another time of year, he'd never have seen those 'black flowers'.