No. 135. 
Banksia Jatifolia, R.Br. (B. robur, Ca v.), 
“ I lie Broad-leaved Honeysuckle.” 
(Family PROTEACEvE.) 
Botanical description. —Genus, Banksia. (See Part VIII, p. 169.) 
Botanical description.-Species, B. latifolia, R.Br., in Trans. Linn. Soc x 
208, Prod. 394. ' 5 ’ 
A low but stout shrub, the branches densely tomentose. 
Zeaiies.—-Shortly petiolate, obovate-oblong, often truncate, irregularly serrate with short usually 
prickly teeth, contracted at the base, 4 to 8 inches long, 1| to 3 inches broad, flat, minutely 
tomentose but not white underneath, with prominent transverse veins and reticulations. 
Spikes. —Oblong-cylindrical, 3 to 5 inches long. 
Perianth. Slender, about 1 inch long; the tube shortly silky-pubescent; the limb glabrous 
narrow, acute, scarcely 2 lines long. ’ 
Style. Becoming straight and spreading as in Kuhunhia, with a very small stigmatic end 
Fruiting conea-Large and thick ; capsules villous, not thick, protruding, about 6 or 7 lines 
diameter. (B.F1. v, 555.) 
The typical form of B. latifolia is one of the easiest of all Banksias to 
determine, hut there is a smaller-leaved form in regard to which some caution is 
necessaiy. It is referred to in the following description:_ 
Banksia latifolia, R.Br., was originally described in Trans, Linn. Soc., x, 208 In Prod 394 are 
Brown s own words, as follows Folds obovato-oblongis spinuloso-serratis basi acutis : subtus costa* 
reticulatis cmereo-tomentosis, penanthn unguibus senceis; laminis glabris, caule fruticoso.” Nothin- is 
here said in regard to the size, variation in outline, &c., of the leaves. 
in the figure in Bot. Mag., t. 2406, and in Bentham’s description (B.F1. v., 555), and all others 
we have observed, the plant is figured or described as with leaves “ obovate-oblong, often truncate 
irregularly serrate with short usually prickly teeth, contracted at the base, 4 to 8 inches long 1) to 
We desire to invite attention to the fact that the species is more variable than it is usually 
supposed to be, some forms, not specifically different, having been confused (quite reasonably) with 
B mtegmfoha* mrl l even B. marginata. The confusion between B. paludosa and this variety will also be 
should^ • f i t , U 6 g ? at am ° Unt ° f Vai ' iation in form8 indubitably included under B. latifolia 
d be indicated in a name, and suggest the name var. minor for its small-leaved forms 4t the same 
time, we have every gradation between the variety and the normal form. 
. We Would P 01nt out that var - minor never grows in swamps, just as typical latifolia 
on dry ridges, where its var. minor abounds. It may, therefore, be that the difference of 
may be largely responsible for the differences between the normal species and its variety. 
The variety minor is usually between 3 and 4 feet in height, and less frequently it 
7 feet, but exceptionally up to 12 feet in height. 
never grows 
environment 
is up to 6 or 
