Banksia laricina

	Family:	Proteaceae
	Distribution:	In sand in shrubland or woodland between Kalbarri and Moore River, Western Australia.
	Common Name:	Rose banksia; rose-fruited banksia; pom-pom banksia
	Derivation of Name:	Banksia...after Sir Joseph Banks. laricina...From greek larix, larch, referring to the foliage which resembles that of a larch.
	Conservation Status:	Not currently listed as threatened under the EPBC Act*. Regarded as vulnerable over the long term and classified as 2VC under the ROTAP * system.

General Description:

Banksia laricina is a shrub to 2 metres tall. The linear leaves are green and measure 5 to 15 mm long by 0.8 mm wide. The obovoid inflorescences are seen in autumn and winter and are about 5 cm wide at flowering, occurring on short lateral branchlets. They are yellow-fawn in colour and are often held within the foliage.

Banksia laricina Photo: Matt Denton

The species is non-lignotuberous and fire-sensitive; plants rely solely on seed for regeneration after bushfires.

Distinctive seed cones of Banksia laricina Photo: Cas Liber

The seeds are enclosed in prominent follicles, which are bright green when new, attached to a woody cone and are generally retained within the cone until burnt. The shape of the cone gives rise to the common name 'rose-fruited banksia' because it is reminiscent of rose petals - unlike those of any other banksia.

Although much of the species distribution is in a conservation reserve, its range is only around 35 km. Also, wild plants are harvested for their fruiting cones, further putting the plant at risk. Thus its long term survival requires long term monitoring in the wild to prevent exploitation.

B.laricina is rarely cultivated but should require a Mediterranean climate (i.e. wet winter, dry summer) and sandy soil to do well. In common with other western banksias, the species is likely to be difficult to establish in areas with humid summers.

Propagation from seed is relatively easy.

* EPBC Act = Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999;
  ROTAP = Rare or Threatened Australian Plants (Briggs and Leigh, 1988)
  For further information refer the Australian Plants at Risk page