Dryandra proteoides (Banksia proteoides)

	Family:	Proteaceae
	Distribution:	South Western Australia.
	Common Name:	King dryandra
	Derivation of Name:	Dryandra...after Jonas Dryander, a swedish botanist. proteoides...similar to the genus Protea.
	Conservation Status:	Not currently listed as threatened under the EPBC Act*. Regarded as rare, but not currently endangered or vulnerable, and classified as 2RC- under the ROTAP * system.

General Description:

Dryandra is a large genus of 135 species in the Protea family. Their nearest relative is the genus Banksia but, unlike the banksias, Dryandra occurs naturally only in Western Australia (Banksia can be found in all states and one species one even extends its range to islands to Australia's north). Many authorities now include Dryandra in an expanded Banksia genus (see box).

Dryandra proteoides (Banksia proteoides) Photo: Margaret Pieroni

Dryandra proteoides is a small to medium shrub to about 1- 2 metres high by a similar width. The leaves are long and narrow, being up to 25 cm long with prickly, triangular teeth along each side. Very large flower heads up to 100mm in diameter are formed in spring. These are brownish-yellow in colour with pinkish brown bracts. The flowers tend to form on older branches and are often concealed within the foliage.

D.proteoides is one of the more difficult species to grow but has been successful in sandy soils in inland areas and other locations of low summer humidity. It prefers full sun or partial shade and is tolerent of at least moderate frost.

Propagation from seed is relatively easy and cuttings are also successful but may not give a high percentage strike.

* 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