Banksia brownii, commonly known as feather-leaved banksia or Brown's banksia, is a species of shrub that grows in the southwest of Western Australia. A banksia with fine feathery leaves and large red-brown flower spikes, it usually grows as an upright bush around two metres (7 ft) high, but can also occur as a small tree or a low spreading shrub. First collected in 1829, it is placed in Banksia subgenus Banksia, section Oncostylis, series Spicigerae. It is considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature; all major populations are threatened by Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback, a disease to which the species is highly susceptible. Other threats include habitat loss, commercial exploitation and changes to the fire regime. Highly valued by Australia's horticultural and cut flower industries, B. brownii is cultivated in areas not exposed to dieback. It prefers a sheltered position in soil with good drainage, and must be provided with some moisture over summer. (Full article...)