As the many small flowers of the 
Banksia baxteri inflorescence drop 
off, they leave behind a woody seed 
cone. The cone contains many ovaries, 
but only a few develop seed capsules. 
These capsules mature into beautifully 
colored protuberances covered with 
delicate white and golden hairs. 
£&&&- 
honeysuckles, was named after the Brit- 
ish naturalist, explorer, and patron of 
science Sir Joseph Banks, who accompa- 
nied Capt. James Cook on his 1768-71 
expedition to Australia. In 1770, when 
Cook discovered the inlet just south of 
present-day Sydney, he named it Sting- 
ray Harbour. Later, the harbor was re- 
named Botany Bay in recognition of the 
many plants Banks found in the area. In 
addition to the Australian honeysuckles, 
he discovered giant figs, palms, tree 
ferns, the flame tree ( Brachychiton 
acerifolium), and the crimson-flowered 
waratah ( Telopea speciossima). 
Banksias are among the most diverse 
members of the family, ranging from 
prostrate shrubs, with inflorescenses 
that seem to lie on the ground, to trees 
that grow up to fifty feet high. Polli- 
nated primarily by honey eaters, all 
Australian honeysuckles produce copi- 
ous nectar, and many are valuable 
sources of honey. Australian aborigines 
make a honey drink by soaking the 
dense flower spikes in water, and in 
many areas of the countryside, children 
often collect the nectar by banging the 
flower heads against a dish. 
In suitable habitats, within the plants’ 
natural range and outside it, Proteaceae 
are frequently cultivated in public and 
private gardens. In Hawaii, outstanding 
specimens of these plants are grown at 
the agricultural experimental stations 
on the islands of Maui and Oahu. The 
macadamia nut tree ( Macadamia terni- 
folia ), a Proteaceae native to Australia, 
is an important commercial crop in Ha- 
waii. Many varieties of Proteaceae are 
now grown commercially in California, 
mostly from seeds and rooted cuttings 
imported from New Zealand and South 
Africa. The colorfulness of the bracts 
enhances their appeal and their stiffness 
lengthens the life of cut flower heads; 
dried, the heads and bracts are often 
sold as centerpieces for arrangements. 
Dead or alive, wild or cultivated, 
these beautiful and variously shaped 
members of the family Proteaceae will 
captivate all who see them as surely as 
the family’s namesake tried to avoid 
capture. 
43 
