Banksia ericifolia is a species of woody shrub of the Proteaceae family
native to Australia; it occurs in two separate regions of Central and
Northern New South Wales east of the Great Dividing Range. Well known for
its orange or red autumn inflorescences, which contrast with its green
fine-leaved heath-like foliage, it is generally encountered as a medium to
large shrub that can reach 6 m (20 ft) high and wide, though is usually half
that size. In exposed heathlands and coastal areas it is more often 1–2 m
(3–7 ft). Banksia ericifolia was one of the original Banksia species
collected by Joseph Banks around Botany Bay in 1770 and was named by Carl
Linnaeus the Younger, son of Carolus Linnaeus, in 1782. Banksia ericifolia
has been widely grown in Australian gardens on the east coast for many years
as well as being used to a limited extent in the cut flower industry.
Compact dwarf cultivars such as Banksia'' 'Little Eric' have become more
popular in recent years with the trend toward smaller gardens.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksia_ericifolia>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1500:
Spanish navigator, explorer, and conquistador Vicente Yáñez Pinzón reached
the north coast of what today is Brazil.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicente_Y%C3%A1%C3%B1ez_Pinz%C3%B3n>
1788:
The British First Fleet, led by Captain Arthur Phillip, landed at Sydney
Cove, establishing the first permanent European settlement in Australia.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Phillip>
1808:
Governor of New South Wales William Bligh was deposed by the New South Wales
Corps in the only successful armed takeover of government in Australia's
recorded history.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rum_Rebellion>
1950:
Indian independence movement: India officially became a republic under a new
constitution, with Rajendra Prasad as its first president.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajendra_Prasad>
1983:
The spreadsheet program Lotus 1-2-3 was first released, becoming the IBM
Personal Computer's first "killer application".
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_1-2-3>
2001:
A 7.7 Mw earthquake struck Gujarat, India, killing more than 20,000 people,
injuring 167,000 others, and destroying about one million homes.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Gujarat_earthquake>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
eager beaver (n):
One (especially a child) who is very excited or enthusiastic to begin a task
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/eager_beaver>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Prometheus, I have no Titan's might,
Yet I, too, must each dusk renew my heart,
For daytime's vulture talons tear apart
The tender alcoves built by love at night. --Philip José Farmer
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Philip_Jos%C3%A9_Farmer>