Banksia aquilonia, commonly known as the northern banksia, is a tree in the family Proteaceae native to north Queensland on Australia's northeastern coastline. With an average height of 8 m (26 ft), it has narrow glossy green leaves up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long and 6 to 10 cm (2.4 to 3.9 in) high pale yellow flower spikes, known as inflorescences, appearing in autumn. As the spikes age, their flowers fall off and they develop up to 50 follicles, each of which contains 2 seeds. Alex George described the plant in his 1981 monograph of the genus Banksia as a variety of Banksia integrifolia, but later reclassified it as a separate species. The species is found in wet sclerophyll forest and rainforest margins on sandy soils. Banksia aquilonia regenerates after bushfire by regrowing from epicormic buds under its bark, although regeneration from root suckers has also been recorded. It adapts readily to cultivation in humid or temperate climates, but is rarely cultivated. A fast-growing plant, it can grow in acidic soils from pH 3.5 to 6.5. Its inflorescences are energy-rich sources of food, and nectar is a food item of many animals and birds, including the endangered mahogany glider.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksia_aquilonia
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1891:
Pope Leo XIII issued the encyclical Rerum Novarum, that addressed the condition of the working classes and is considered to be the foundation of modern Catholic social teaching. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rerum_Novarum
1905:
Las Vegas (welcome sign pictured) was established as railroad town, after 110 acres (0.45 km2) owned by the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad was auctioned off. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas
1948:
The Australian cricket team, on tour in England set a first- class world record that still stands by scoring 721 runs in a day against Essex. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_cricket_team_in_England_in_1948
1953:
Don Murphy organized the first pinewood derby, an event for Cub Scouts of the Boy Scouts of America where wooden cars built by the scouts are raced. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinewood_derby
1966:
Disapproving of his handling of the Buddhist Uprising, South Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Cao Ky ordered an attack on the forces of General Ton That Dinh and ousted him from the position. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ton_That_Dinh
2010:
Upon her return to Sydney three days before her 17th birthday, Jessica Watson became the youngest person to sail non-stop and unassisted around the world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Watson
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
plangent: Having a loud, mournful sound. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/plangent
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
I think the world is like a great mirror, and reflects our lives just as we ourselves look upon it. Those who turn sad faces toward the world find only sadness reflected. But a smile is reflected in the same way, and cheers and brightens our hearts. --L. Frank Baum https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/L._Frank_Baum
daily-article-l@lists.wikimedia.org