Prickly Dryandra

Banksia falcata is a column-shaped shrub that typically grows to a height of 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) but does not form a lignotuber. It has undulating, serrated to pinnatipartite leaves that are wedge-shaped in outline, 35–80 mm (1.4–3.1 in) long and 15–30 mm (0.59–1.18 in) wide on a petiole 5–12 mm (0.20–0.47 in) long, with between seven and thirteen sharply-pointed teeth on each side. The flowers are borne on a head containing between 110 and 150 flowers in each head. There are linear to narrow lance-shaped involucral bracts 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) long covered with rusty, woolly hairs at the base of the head. The flowers have a bright yellow perianth 30–39 mm (1.2–1.5 in) long and a yellow pistil 32–45 mm (1.3–1.8 in) long. Flowering occurs from September to November or January and the follicles are oval, 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long and covered with soft hairs.

Banksia falcata grows in kwongan between the Stirling Range and Esperance in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee biogeographic regions.