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

_______________________________ 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

_____________________________ 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

___________________________ 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