Wikipedia:Today's featured article

Today's featured article The Main Page includes a section where an adapted lead section from one of Wikipedia's featured articles is displayed. The current month's queue can be found here. The articles appearing on the main page are scheduled by Raul654, who was ratified in 2004 as featured article director, or his delegate Dabomb87. You can make new requests or comment on current requests at Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests. To appear on the main page, an article must already be a featured article (see Featured article candidates), and must have a lead section suitable for the main page. The format of the Main page blurbs is a single paragraph that is roughly 1200 characters or less in total length, with no reference tags, alternate names, or extraneous bolding. Only the link to the specified featured article is bolded. For biographical articles, birth/death dates are trimmed down to year only. The blurb should be preceded by a lead image when available; fair use images are not allowed. Raul654 maintains a very small, unofficial list of featured articles that he does not intend to have appear on the main page. If you notice a problem with an upcoming main-page featured article, please leave a message on User talk:Dabomb87 or User talk:Raul654. The editnotice template for Today's Featured Article is {{TFA-editnotice}}. It is automatically applied by {{Editnotices/Namespace/Main}} when the article's title matches the contents of {{TFA title}}.

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Today's featured article Banksia cuneata is an endangered species of flowering plant in the Proteaceae family. Endemic to southwest Western Australia, it belongs to the subgenus Isostylis, which contains three closely related species with flower clusters that are dome-shaped heads rather than characteristic Banksia flower spikes. A shrub or small tree up to 5 m (16 ft) high, it has prickly foliage and pink and cream flowers. The common name Matchstick Banksia arises from the blooms in late bud, the individual buds of which resemble matchsticks. The species is pollinated by honeyeaters. Although B. cuneata was first collected before 1880, it was not until 1981 that Australian botanist Alex George formally described and named the species. There are two genetically distinct population groups, but no recognised varieties. This Banksia is classified as endangered, surviving in fragments of remnant bushland in a region which has been 93% cleared for agriculture. As Banksia cuneata is killed by fire and regenerates from seed, it is highly sensitive to bushfire frequency; fires recurring within four years could wipe out populations of plants not yet mature enough to set seed. Banksia cuneata is rarely cultivated, and its prickly foliage limits its utility in the cut flower industry. (more...) Recently featured: Battle of Barrosa – Rutherford B. Hayes – Kevin O'Halloran

Tomorrow's featured article Cyclone Elita was an unusual tropical cyclone that made landfall on Madagascar three times. Elita developed on January 24 in the Mozambique Channel. It strengthened to become a tropical cyclone before striking northwestern Madagascar on January 28. Elita weakened to tropical depression status while crossing the island, and after exiting into the southwest Indian Ocean it turned to the west and moved ashore for a second time on January 31 in eastern Madagascar. After crossing the island, the cyclone intensified again after reaching the Mozambique Channel, and Elita turned to the southeast to make its final landfall on February 3 along southwestern Madagascar. Elita dropped heavy rainfall of over 200 mm (8 inches), which damaged or destroyed thousands of houses in Madagascar. Over 50,000 people were left homeless, primarily in Mahajanga and Toliara provinces. Flooding from the storm damaged or destroyed more than 450 km2 (170 sq mi) of agricultural land, including important crops for food. Across the island, the cyclone caused at least 33 deaths. Elsewhere, the cyclone brought rainfall and damage to Mozambique and Malawi, while its outer circulation produced rough seas and strong winds in Seychelles, Mauritius, and Réunion. (more...) Recently featured: Banksia cuneata – Battle of Barrosa – Rutherford B. Hayes