Banksia marginata, the silver banksia, is a species of tree or woody
shrub found throughout much of southeastern Australia. It ranges from
the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia to north of Armidale, New South
Wales, and across Tasmania and the islands of Bass Strait. It grows in
various habitats, including Eucalyptus forest, scrub, heathland and
moorland. B. marginata varies widely in habit, ranging from a small
shrub, 20 cm (7.9 in) high, to a large tree, 12 m (40 ft) tall. Its
narrow leaves are linear. Its yellow flower spikes appear in late
summer, eventually fading to brown and then grey and developing woody
follicles bearing the winged seeds. Many species of bird, in particular
honeyeaters, forage at the flower spikes, as do native and European
honeybees. Although the silver banksia has been used for timber, it is
most commonly seen as a garden plant, with dwarf forms being
commercially propagated and sold.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksia_marginata>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1923:
The Gleno Dam in the Italian province of Bergamo failed due to
poor workmanship, flooding the downstream valley and killing at least
356 people.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleno_Dam>
1959:
Twelve countries signed the Antarctic Treaty, the first arms
control agreement established during the Cold War, banning military
activity in the Antarctic and setting the continent aside as a
scientific preserve.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Treaty_System>
1966:
The first Gävle goat, a Swedish Yule goat tradition, was
constructed in Gävle and then burned to the ground on New Year's Eve.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A4vle_goat>
1991:
More than 92 percent of Ukrainian voters approved their
country's independence as declared on 24 August.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Ukrainian_independence_referendum>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
tip of the iceberg:
(idiomatic) A small indication of a larger possibility; the first part
encountered of a problem that is much bigger than it seems.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tip_of_the_iceberg>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Nothing is simpler than to kill a man; the difficulties arise in
attempting to avoid the consequences.
--Too Many Cooks
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Nero_Wolfe#Too_Many_Cooks>