Mating system parameters of the rare and endangered species Banksia br
ownii were estimated for two populations using both the mixed mating a
nd effective selfing models. Estimates of outcrossing rate were simila
r in both populations for both models (mixed mating t Pop. 1=0.68, Pop
. 2=0.75; effective selfing t Pop. 1=0.65, Pop. 2=0.73) and were among
the lowest reported for undisturbed Banksia populations. Banksia brow
nii is killed by fire and the high level of selfing found may be assoc
iated with this trait. Multilocus and minimum variance mean i estimate
s were similar and the covariance of selfing with gene fixation (D) wa
s not significantly different from zero indicating that populations we
re not structured and that most of the inbreeding was the result of se
lf-fertilisation. The absence of structure was attributed to gene disp
ersal through pollen disperse by birds, and selection against inbred s
eed. It is suggested that several entire, large populations of this sp
ecies together with habitat sufficient to support pollinators be reser
ved to conserve this species.