Wikipedia:Main Page history/2021 September 21b

Banksia sceptrum, the sceptre banksia, is a plant that grows in Western Australia near the central west coast from Geraldton north through Kalbarri to Hamelin Pool, extending inland almost to Mullewa. It is generally a shrub up to 4 m (13 ft) in diameter and 2–4 m (7–13 ft) high, sometimes reaching 5 m (16 ft). First collected and grown by early settler James Drummond in Western Australia, it was described by Swiss botanist Carl Meissner in 1855. In nature, B. sceptrum grows in deep yellow or pale red sand in tall shrubland, commonly on dunes. It is killed in bushfires and regenerates by seed, the woody follicles opening with fire. B. sceptrum is one of the most striking yellow-flowered banksias, with tall bright flower spikes (inflorescences) that are well displayed on the ends of branches. Flowering is in summer, mainly December and January, though flowers are occasionally seen at other times. (Full article...)

Dahomean statue in the Musée du Quai Branly, Paris

• ... that following the Report on the Restitution of African Cultural Heritage, the President of France promised to return African artworks (example pictured) looted during colonial times?
• ... that the WandaVision episode "Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience" employed a variety of live special effects such as wire rigs to emulate television series of the 1950s and 1960s?
• ... that despite not initially being selected for the 2020 Summer Paralympics, British equestrian Georgia Wilson won two bronze medals at the Games?
• ... that
  GE Aviation
  employees?
• ... that
  the Inquisition for mismanaging the religious congregation he founded
  ?
• ... that four Altars for Peace, fashioned out of large trees by George Nakashima, have been placed on different continents?
• ... that Soviet scientist Mikhail Ioffe was not allowed to collect the Atoms for Peace Award because he was seen to be too friendly with western scientists?
• ... that Spud Island was sold for US$15,000?

Abdelaziz Bouteflika

• Former President of Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika (pictured) dies at the age of 84.
• SpaceX launches Inspiration4, the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight.
• The United States, United Kingdom, and Australia sign a security pact that will provide Australia with nuclear submarines.
• British
  the US Open, becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam
  title.

September 21: International Day of Peace; Mid-Autumn Festival (traditional Chinese calendar, 2021)

A painting depicting the Angel Moroni delivering golden plates to Joseph Smith

• 1675 – Led by Antonio de Vea, a Spanish naval expedition departed El Callao, Peru, for the fjords and channels of Patagonia to find whether rival colonial powers were in the region.
• 1823 – According to Joseph Smith, he was first visited by the Angel Moroni (pictured), who would guide him to the golden plates that became the basis of the Book of Mormon.
• 1968 – The Soviet Zond 5 landed in the Indian Ocean, becoming the first spacecraft to safely return to Earth after circling the Moon.
• 2001 – With racial tensions high after the September 11 attacks, a gang of British Muslim youths in Peterborough, England, murdered 17-year-old Ross Parker.