any shrub or tree of the Australian genus Banksia, having long leathery evergreen leaves and dense cylindrical heads of flowers that are often red or yellowish: family Proteaceae
See also honeysuckle (sense 3)
Word origin
C19: New Latin, named after Sir Joseph Banks
banksia in American English
(ˈbæŋksiə)
noun
any of a genus (Banksia) of Australian evergreen shrubs of the protea family, with showy, dense clusters of small flowers and spiny leaves