40 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Jan., 1917. 



The Desert Banksia is a rather ornamental shrub, compact in struc- 

 ture, with a deep blue green foliage. The leaves are oblong, wedge- 

 shaped towards the stalk, with regular teeth on the edges, 2 to 4 inches 

 long,, i to I inches broad, with the transverse veins prominent under- 

 neath. 



Flower spikes, oblong, egg-shaped, 2 to 4 inches long, or globular. 

 Fruiting cone egg-shaped, seed capsules very thick, and fully f ini 

 broad. 



It flowers from April to July, and is a heavy yielder of nectar and 

 pollen, so that brood rearing is kept up in the hives right into winter, 

 insuring successful wintering of the bses, which :n part is due to the com- 

 parative warmth of the localities where this Banksia grows. The honey. 



Fig. 61. 



like that from the other Banksias, is not first class, candies quickly, some- 

 times even in the outside combs of the hive, but the Desert Banksia is 

 nevertheless a most valuable bee plant, taking in autumn the place which 

 the Cape weed fills in spring. 



The Hill Banksia (Banksia cillina). 

 Fig. 61. 



A tall, erect shrub attaining a height of 8 to 12 feet, found princi- 

 pally in the south, north-east, and east of the State, and also sometimes 

 known as Hairpin, on account of the wirelike bent back stamens of the 

 flower. 



I 



