English: Woody pear.
Synonym: Banksia pyriformis
Region: eastern Australia, New South Wales.
Habitat: plateau and ridges; in nutrient-poor, well-drained, sandstone soils; in open eucalypt woodland.
Ecology: fungus Giugnardia causes leaf spot; Cephaleutos virescens is responsible for an algal leaf spot.
Use: wood to make gun stocks.
BotanyLarge shrub or small tree; 5 metres high; regenerates from a lignotuber or epicormic buds after bushfires.
Leaves: large, dentate, with 6 to 11 teeth along each edge, with fine rust-coloured fur, when juvenile; entire margins when adult; prominently veined; 10 to 20 cm long, ± 5 cm wide; glabrous (smooth); dark green.
Inflorescences: 5 to 8 cm; rusty coloured.
Flowers: flowering from September to November.
Fruit: large, woody, pear-shaped seed pod; up to 9 cm long and 5 cm wide.
Dispersion: after fires.