Wikipedia:Today's featured article/October 9, 2015
Banksia menziesii, commonly known as firewood banksia, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Banksia. It is a gnarled tree up to 10 m (33 ft) tall or, in its northern range, a spreading shrub. The serrated leaves are dull green with new growth a paler grey green. The autumn and winter inflorescences are often two-coloured red or pink and yellow. First described by the botanist Robert Brown in the early 19th century, no separate varieties of B. menziesii are recognised. It is found in Western Australia, from the Perth region north to the Murchison River, and generally grows on sandy soils in scrubland or low woodland. It provides food for an array of invertebrate and vertebrate animals; honeyeaters and other birds are prominent visitors. A relatively hardy plant, B. menziesii is commonly seen in gardens, nature strips and parks in Australian urban areas with Mediterranean climates, but its sensitivity to root rot makes it short-lived in places with humid summers. It is widely used in the cut flower industry in Australia and overseas. (Full article...)