Banksia aemula, commonly known as the wallum banksia, is a shrub of the
family Proteaceae. Found from Bundaberg south to Sydney on the
Australian east coast, it is encountered as a shrub or a tree up to 8 m
(26 ft) tall in coastal heath on deep sandy soil known as Wallum. It
has wrinkled orange bark and shiny green serrated leaves, with green-
yellow flower spikes, called inflorescences, appearing in autumn. The
flower spikes turn grey as they age and large grey follicles appear. B.
aemula resprouts from its woody lignotuber after bushfires. Aemula,
Latin for "similar", comes from its resemblance to the closely related
Banksia serrata. First described by the botanist Robert Brown in the
early 19th century, it was known for many years in New South Wales as
Banksia serratifolia. This name, originally coined by Richard Anthony
Salisbury, proved invalid, and since 1981 Banksia aemula has been
accepted as the scientific name. A wide array of mammals, invertebrates,
and birds, particularly honeyeaters, visit the inflorescences and are
instrumental in pollination. It is grown as a garden plant, but less
commonly than B. serrata.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksia_aemula>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1316:
The forces of the infante Ferdinand of Majorca fought against
those loyal to Princess Matilda of Hainaut in the Battle of Picotin on
the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Picotin>
1744:
War of the Austrian Succession: British ships began attacking
the Spanish rear of a Franco-Spanish combined fleet in the Mediterranean
Sea off the coast near Toulon, France.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Toulon_(1744)>
1899:
Philippine–American War: Filipino forces launched their first
counterattack in a failed attempt aimed at recapturing Manila from the
Americans.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Caloocan>
1958:
Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser and Syrian President
Shukri al-Quwatli signed a union pact to form the United Arab Republic.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Republic>
2006:
At least six men staged Britain's biggest cash robbery ever at
a Securitas depot in Tonbridge, Kent.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securitas_depot_robbery>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
usurious:
1. Of or pertaining to usury.
2. Exorbitant.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/usurious>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
The bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and
respectable Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations
And Religions; whom we shall wellcome to a participation of all our
rights and previleges, if by decency and propriety of conduct they
appear to merit the enjoyment.
--George Washington
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Washington>