Abstract of a paper based on work funded at least in part by the Australian Flora Foundation

Mibus, R. Sedgley, M.
Department of Horticulture, Viticulture and Oenology, Waite Agricultural Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia.

Early lignotuber formation in Banksia - investigations into the anatomy of the cotyledonary node of two Banksia (Proteaceae) species.
Annals of Botany. 2000. 86: 575-587
CAB Abstract 20000315866

Abstract
The anatomy of the early cotyledonary node of Banksia menziesii and B. serrata seedlings was investigated to identify the numbers, types and location of buds present. The 2 bud types that were present in both species were an exogenous axillary bud in the axil of each cotyledon and leaf and exogenous adventitious buds formed along the line of fusion of opposing auricles. A 3rd bud type, the endogenous accessory bud, was present in B. menziesii but not in B. serrata. In addition, the thick sheath of parenchymatous tissue surrounding the base of the seedling stem was not formed in B. serrata. It is concluded that the presence of different bud types in large numbers makes the cotyledonary node and the shoots that develop from it ideal for clonal propagation.