The old man banksia, also known as the tropical banksia, Banksia dentata (family Proteaceae), is a scraggly tree with stiff oblong tooth-margined leaves. It has a prominent yellow flower spike during the flowering season (during the wet). It occurs on open woodland.

This tree's nectar popular with many birds such as the blue-eyed honeyeater and the rainbow lorikeet. It is also taken by flying-foxes and sugarbag bees. For more information on plant food and the traditional subsistence of Aboriginal people in central Cape York Peninsula, see the Edible plant products page.