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

_______________________________ 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

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

usurious: 1. Of or pertaining to usury. 2. Exorbitant. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/usurious

___________________________ 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