Ivan Holliday (1926–2010)

This book does exactly what it sets out to do: it is a really useful field guide to the banksia species. Ivan Holliday says that there are 58 named species of banksia....although his book seems to detail 62 ..though maybe a couple are varieties or sub-species. There is a short introductory section which outlines a little bit about the species and I became aware for the first time that in terms of number of species, Western Australia comes out well on top with 46 species, The eastern states show more are much poorer in species. I had known the WA was rich in Banksia but had not realised that they were so dominant.
Each species is treated to a two page spread with great photographs of the flowering plant and an insert showing the mature cone with a sample leaf. some details about requirements for cultivation are included but I think if one was seriously interested in growing them then you would need more than this book. They have included a good glossary in the back which has some details about leaf and inflorescent shapes but a true botanical key is absent. Maybe, with only 62 species one does not need it and it is relatively easy to, at least, identify a specimen as a banksia even if the exact species is unknown. And that's where this book comes in and should be of great assistance in identifying the species. It's small enough to carry in a backpack and the pictures would help narrow the choice.
There is a short paragraph on each species indicating requirements for growing (most seem to prefer slightly acid, well drained soils) but hardly enough to set up in business growing them. Bottom line, I enjoyed reading it and give it four stars. show less

This book was invaluable as I travelled around WA last year

Second edition 2004 is entitled "Melaleucas: a field and garden guide", also catalogued at 583.42 HOL

Mended copy