Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 March 2

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Today's featured article
The Hairpin Banksia (Banksia spinulosa) is a species of woody shrub, of the genus Banksia in the Proteaceae family, native to eastern Australia. Widely distributed, it is found as an understorey plant in open dry forest or heathland from Victoria to northern Queensland, generally on sandstone though sometimes also clay soils. It generally grows as a small shrub to 2 metres (7 ft) in height, though can be a straggly tree to 6 metres (20 ft). Its inflorescences (flower spikes) are gold or less commonly yellowish, with emergent styles that may be a wide range of colours – from black, purple, red, orange or yellow. The Hairpin Banksia is pollinated by and provides food for a wide array of vertebrate and invertebrate animals in the autumn and winter months. Its floral display and fine foliage have made it a popular garden plant with many horticultural selections available. Given recent trends toward smaller gardens, compact dwarf forms of Banksia spinulosa have become popular; the first available, Banksia 'Birthday Candles', has achieved a great deal of commercial success and wide recognition, and has been followed by several others. (more...) Recently featured: Posting system – Frederick III – Mount Cayley volcanic field Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that German paratrooper Walter Koch (pictured) acted against the Commando Order and saved John Dutton Frost's British paratroopers from execution? ... that in the north, the North American paper wasp Polistes annularis has rust-red markings on a predominantly black thorax, but in the south, the thorax is mostly rust-red with black markings? ... that the medieval cross in the centre of the village of Ackworth, West Yorkshire, may have been built as a memorial to victims of the Black Death? ... that the Laplace distribution with a mean of zero is a special case of the geometric stable distribution? ... that film pioneer William Haggar's 1903 short Desperate Poaching Affray is believed to have been a key influence on the "chase" sub-genre of early film? ... that Nelly and Eminem won Grammys for Best Male Rap Solo Performance in the two years when the Best Rap Solo Performance Award was split into male and female categories? ... that the Maxberg specimen, one of only 10 Archaeopteryx specimens ever found, has been lost since 1991? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Tom Hooper The King's Speech wins four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Tom Hooper (pictured), at the 83rd Academy Awards. Beji Caid el Sebsi becomes Prime Minister of Tunisia after Mohamed Ghannouchi resigns amid ongoing protests. Fine Gael, led by Enda Kenny, wins a plurality in the Irish general election. Amid crackdowns on protesters, the UN Security Council refers the situation in Libya to the International Criminal Court and imposes sanctions on Muammar Gaddafi. Russia launches the first GLONASS-K satellite, intended as part of the GLONASS global navigation satellite system. Protests are held in Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain amid continuing turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
March 2: The Nineteen Day Fast begins (Bahá'í Faith) Pope Pius XII 1836 – Texas Revolution: At a convention of delegates in Washington-on-the-Brazos, the Mexican state of Texas adopted a declaration of independence, establishing the Republic of Texas. 1939 – Italian Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli was elected as Pope and took the name Pius XII (pictured). 1943 – World War II: Australian and American air forces attacked and destroyed a large convoy of the Japanese Navy in the Bismarck Sea north of Papua New Guinea. 1949 – The B-50 Superfortress Lucky Lady II landed in Fort Worth, Texas, US, after completing the first non-stop around-the-world airplane flight in 94 hours and one minute. 1992 – By virtue of gaining membership to the United Nations, Moldova gained international recognition as an independent nation. More anniversaries: March 1 – March 2 – March 3 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now March 2 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Four mounted police officers of the Victoria Police in Victoria, Australia, during a peaceful protest at Hazelwood Power Station. The officers and horses are equipped with riot gear to protect them from any indirect projectiles or attempted assaults, as well as reflective tape to aid visibility. Mounted police are often employed in crowd control because of their mobile mass and height advantage.

Photo: Mriya

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