Banksia menziesii, commonly known as firewood banksia, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Banksia. It is a gnarled tree up to 10 m (33 ft) tall or, in its northern range, a spreading shrub. The serrated leaves are dull green with new growth a paler grey green. The autumn and winter inflorescences are often two-coloured red or pink and yellow. First described by the botanist Robert Brown in the early 19th century, no separate varieties of B. menziesii are recognised. It is found in Western Australia, from the Perth region north to the Murchison River, and generally grows on sandy soils in scrubland or low woodland. It provides food for an array of invertebrate and vertebrate animals; honeyeaters and other birds are prominent visitors. A relatively hardy plant, B. menziesii is commonly seen in gardens, nature strips and parks in Australian urban areas with Mediterranean climates, but its sensitivity to root rot makes it short-lived in places with humid summers. It is widely used in the cut flower industry in Australia and overseas.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksia_menziesii

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1594:

Sinhalese–Portuguese War: Portugal had almost conquered the island of Sri Lanka when its army was completely annihilated, ending the Campaign of Danture. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_of_Danture

1845:

Anglican priest John Henry Newman, who wished to return the Church of England to many Catholic beliefs, was formally received into the Roman Catholic Church. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_Newman

1914:

World War I: Belgian troops in Antwerp surrendered, allowing the German army to capture the city. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Antwerp_(1914)

1970:

The Khmer Republic, headed by General Lon Nol and Prince Sisowath Sirik Matak, was proclaimed in Cambodia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Republic

2012:

Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai was shot at by a Taliban gunman in a failed assassination attempt. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malala_Yousafzai

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

fictionary: A parlor game in which participants invent definitions for an unfamiliar word found in a dictionary, and as one person reads them out, the others try to guess which one is the correct definition. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fictionary

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I'm not claiming divinity. I've never claimed purity of soul. I've never claimed to have the answers to life. I only put out songs and answer questions as honestly as I can … But I still believe in peace, love and understanding.   --John Lennon https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Lennon