Banksia sessilis...

... and a prickly little beastie to boot!

Widespread through South Western Australia the flowerheads are an important food source...nectar for honeyeaters, native bees and the European honey bee and seeds for the black cocatoos and ringneck parrots.
There is an spiky clump growing by the path of our evening walk which blossom into flower at this time of year and the bees go bonkers!

The life cycle of the parrot bush is adapted to regular bushfires with the plant being killed by fire but regenerated by seed afterwards, recolonising fire ravaged areas with the large amount of seeds it produces.

Now commonly known as 'parrot bush' other common names included prickly banksia, holly-leaved dryandra and 'shaving-brush flower'. The latter suggested by Australian botanical illustrator Emily Pelloe in 1921 and was in common use until the 1950s.

Winter foraging for birds and bees.