Close-up of the characteristic flower spikes of a Banksia species in Melbourne, Australia. Urban areas across the world have seen the partly extinction of the flora historically associated with the local area. Fortunately, many species of Banksia can still be found in Melbourne. The genus Banksia was named after botanist Sir Joseph Banks who collected specimens of this plant during James Cook first expedition. All but one of the 173 existing species of Banksia are endemic to Australia. Banksia flowers are rich in nectar and, therefore, they provide important resources for native and introduced pollinators. Photo by Luis Mata. Full paper here

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