Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 March 6

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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 Archive – By email – More featured articles...
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From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that Nasturtiums (pictured), a painting by E. Phillips Fox, was purchased as a memorial to Margaret Olley? ... that science fiction author Greg Egan was praised for taking Zendegi "into the street demos and sitting rooms of near-future Tehran"? ... that in 1815 Napoleon surrendered to Captain Frederick Lewis Maitland of HMS Bellerophon, the ship that had "dogged his steps for more than twenty years", ending the Napoleonic Wars? ... that Australian Stinger Jane Moran is only the second woman ever to have competed in 200 games in the National Water Polo League? ... that one of Gustav Morelli's wood engravings was a reproduction of a painting by Árpád Feszty of chieftain Árpád and the arrival of the Magyars? ... that Nudes-A-Poppin' is billed as "The World's Largest Outdoor Nude Beauty Pageant"? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

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Vladimir Putin Vladimir Putin (pictured) is elected President of Russia for a third term. Blasts at an armory in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, kill at least 213 people and injure hundreds more. A train crash near Szczekociny, Poland, kills 16 people. A tornado outbreak in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States causes at least 39 fatalities. BP agrees to pay US$7.8 billion to plaintiffs affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. English musician Davy Jones, a member of The Monkees, dies at the age of 66. Conflict in Syria – Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
March 6: Independence Day in Ghana (1957) 1447 – Tomaso Parentucelli became Pope Nicholas V. 1834 – York, Upper Canada, was incorporated as Toronto. 1853 – Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata premiered at Venice's La Fenice, but the performance was so bad that it caused the Italian composer to revise portions of the opera. 1899 – German chemical and pharmaceutical company Bayer registered Aspirin as a trademark. 1945 – Petru Groza (pictured) of the Ploughmen's Front became the first Prime Minister of the Communist Party-dominated governments of Romania. 1964 – In a radio broadcast, Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad announced that American boxer Cassius Clay would change his name to Muhammad Ali. 1988 – In Operation Flavius, the British Special Air Service killed three Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteers conspiring to bomb a parade of British military bands in Gibraltar. More anniversaries: March 5 – March 6 – March 7 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now March 6, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The Alamo is a Roman Catholic mission located in San Antonio, Texas, United States. It was the site of the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution, in which almost all the Texian Army defenders were killed. Today, it is one of the most popular historic sites in the US.

Photo: Daniel Schwen

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