Banksia integrifolia is a species of tree that grows along the east coast of Australia. One of the most widely-distributed Banksia species, it occurs between Victoria and Central Queensland in a broad range of habitats, from coastal dunes to mountains. It is highly variable in form, but is most often encountered as a tree up to 25 metres (82 ft) in height. Its leaves have dark green upper surfaces and white undersides, a contrast that can be striking on windy days. It is one of the four original Banksia species collected by Sir Joseph Banks in 1770, and one of four species published in 1782 as part of Carolus Linnaeus the Younger's original description of the genus. A hardy and versatile garden plant, B. integrifolia is widely planted in Australian gardens. It is a popular choice for parks and streetscapes, and has been used for bush revegetation and stabilisation of dunes. Its hardiness has prompted research into its suitability for use as a rootstock in the cut flower trade, but has also caused concerns about its potential to become a weed outside its natural habitat.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksia_integrifolia

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1594: The King of Navarre was crowned King Henry IV of France at the Cathedral of Chartres near Paris, beginning the Bourbon dynasty. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_IV_of_France)

1617: Rise of Sweden as a Great Power: Sweden signed the Treaty of Stolbovo to end the Ingrian War with Russia, making large territorial gains. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Stolbovo)

1801: Washington, D.C. was placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Washington%2C_D.C.)

1933: The Reichstag building was set on fire, a pivotal event in the establishment of the Nazi regime in Germany. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_fire)

1976: The Polisario Front proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Western Sahara. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polisario_Front)

_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:

Lives of great men all remind usWe can make our lives sublime,And departing, leave behind usFootprints on the sands of time. Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o'er life's solemn main,A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,Seeing, shall take heart again. Let us, then, be up and doing.With a heart for any fate;Still achieving, still pursuing,Learn to labor and to wait. -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henry_Wadsworth_Longfellow)