Banksia sect. Oncostylis is one of four sections of subgenus Banksia subg. Banksia. It contains those Banksia species with hooked pistils. All of the species in Oncostylis also exhibit a top-down sequence of flower anthesis, except for Banksia nutans which is bottom-up.
Banksia sect. Oncostylis is further divided into four series, primarily on the overall shape of the inflorescence:
All Oncostylis species are endemic to southwest Western Australia, except for two members of series Spicigerae, Banksia ericifolia (Heath-leaved Banksia) and Banksia spinulosa (Hairpin Banksia), which are endemic to the east coast of Australia.