Banksia attenuataCommon name: Candle Banksia

Meaning of name: Banksia is named after Sir Joseph Banks (1743 – 1820) who collected the first specimens of the genus during Captain Cook’s voyage in 1770. Attenuata is from the Latin word attenuatus meaning made thin or narrow, or narrowing to a point. This refers to the narrowing of the leaf towards its base.

Aboriginal name: Piara.

Aboriginal use: An infusion of the flowers was used to relieve coughs and colds and as a refreshing drink.

Distribution: Occurs on the Coastal Plain from Murchison River to Bremer Bay.

Description: A tree to 10 metres tall. Yellow flowering cone appears from September to February.

References: Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. 1996.
Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.
Leaf & Branch, Trees and Tall Shrubs of Perth. Robert Powell. 1990

Noongar Bush Medicine, Medicinal Plants of the South-west of Western Australia. Vivienne Hansen & John Horsfall. 2016