Grevillea banksii R. Br.

Shrub or small, slender tree up to 4-10 m tall, rarely prostrate. Branchlets slightly ridged by decurrent leaf bases, tomentose. "Leaves alternate, pinnatipartite, 6-12-lobed, (8-)14-30 cm long; petiole 3-5 cm long; lobes asymmetrical, broadly linear to lanceolate, glabrous above, ferrugineous-silky beneath." Inflorescence a terminal or axillary (in one of the upper leaves), dense, subcylindrical raceme, 5-10(-21) cm long; peduncle 1-4 cm long, tomentose; rachis villous; pedicel 3-10 mm long, villous; flower red, yellowish or almost white, sometimes greenish or red; perianth suboblong, tube 13-20 mm x 3-4 mm, tomentose outside, glabrous inside, limb obliquely ovate. Fruit an obliquely ovoid follicle with persistent style, 15-24 mm x 9-10 mm x 4-5 mm, coriaceous and dehiscing on one side, 1-2-seeded. Seed 8-11 mm x 3.5-4 mm x 1 mm, narrowly winged, smooth, shiny.

It flowers year-round in Java and Peninsular Malaysia. If the fruits are not picked timely, they split open and the seed are scattered. Fully viable seed can be obtained from 3-4 years-old trees.

In Queensland, G. banksii occurs on various soils, but mainly on compact sandy ones in flat areas. It is moderately frost-tolerant.

Native to south-eastern Queensland, introduced into Indonesia, Malaysia, Madagascar and South Africa. Naturalized in Madagascar.

Boundary or barrier or support: Poles and forms effective wind-breaks in regions of high rainfall. Cultivar 'fosteri' is a dense shrub used in fences. Ornamental: It is also grown as an ornamental.

Fodder: Prunnings provide a promising fodder for goats. Fuel: It is suitable as a fuelwoods.