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From today's featured article Banksia ilicifolia, commonly known as holly-leaved banksia, is a tree in the family Proteaceae. Endemic to southwest Western Australia, it belongs to Banksia subg. Isostylis, a subgenus of three closely related Banksia species with inflorescences that are dome-shaped heads rather than characteristic Banksia flower spikes. It is generally a tree up to 10 metres (33 ft) tall with a columnar or irregular habit. Both the scientific and common names arise from the similarity of its foliage to that of the English holly Ilex aquifolium; the glossy green leaves generally have very prickly serrated margins, although some plants lack toothed leaves. The inflorescences are initially yellow but become red-tinged with maturity; this acts as a signal to alert birds that the flowers have opened and nectar is available. Robert Brown described Banksia ilicifolia in 1810. Although the tree is variable in growth form, with low coastal shrubby forms on the south coast near Albany, there are no recognised varieties as such. Distributed broadly, the species is restricted to sandy soils. Unlike its close relatives which are killed by fire and repopulate from seed, Banksia ilicifolia regenerates after bushfire by regrowing from epicormic buds under its bark. (Full article...) Recently featured: Carlson's patrol – Thomas Percy – Gabriel Fauré Did you know... From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the Abruzzo wine Trebbiano d'Abruzzo was praised by Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes (pictured) in his Novelas ejemplares for its high quality? ... that Cynthia McKinney, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton tried to release sealed FBI files on the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.? ... that Polish minority politician in Czechoslovakia, Augustyn Łukosz, was a deputy in the autonomous Silesian Parliament in Poland before his death at the Mauthausen Concentration Camp? ... that a near-Earth asteroid was discovered on the night of 15 to 16 November 2011 by Morocco's Cadi Ayyad University using a MOSS telescope? ... that Russia has the largest number of brown bears, believed to exceed 100,000, while estimates in the U.S. are around 33,000, Canada 25,000, and Europe (excluding Russia) 14,000? ... that Idaho politician Marvin Richardson had his name legally changed to Pro-Life?

In the news Barack Obama (pictured) is re-elected President of the United States. In a non-binding referendum, Puerto Rico votes in favor of changing its territorial status and requesting to become the 51st state of the United States. The first complete specimens of Mesoplodon traversii, the world's rarest whale species, are identified. In thoroughbred horse racing, Green Moon, ridden by Brett Prebble, wins the Melbourne Cup. Theodoros II of Alexandria is selected as Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church. On this day... November 7: October Revolution Day in Belarus and various other regions of the former Soviet Union 1775 – Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of the British Colony of Virginia, signed a proclamation promising freedom for slaves of Patriots if they joined the British Armed Forces. 1861 – American Civil War: Future U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant engaged in his first combat leadership role in the Battle of Belmont in Mississippi County, Missouri. 1917 – Vladimir Lenin (pictured) led a Bolshevik insurrection against the Provisional Government of Alexander Kerensky, starting the Bolshevik Revolution. 1987 – Zine El Abidine Ben Ali deposed and replaced Habib Bourguiba as President of Tunisia, declaring him medically unfit for the duties of the office. 2007 – A Finnish high school student shot and killed eight people at Jokela High School in Tuusula before committing suicide. More anniversaries: November 6 – November 7 – November 8 It is now November 7, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture An officer of the Victoria Police, the primary law enforcement agency of the Australian state of Victoria. The agency was founded in 1835 from an existing colonial police force of 875 men. As of 2011, the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations. Photo: John O'Neill Recently featured: William McKinley election poster – Shiva Nataraja – Alexz Johnson

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