Paris (pronounced /?pær?s/ in English; [pa?i] (help·info) in French) is the capital of France and the country’s largest city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region (also known as the “Paris Region”; French: Région parisienne). The city of Paris, within its limits largely unchanged since 1860, has an estimated population of 2,167,994 (January 2006),[5] but the Paris aire urbaine (or metropolitan area) has a population of over 11 million,[6] and is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in Europe.[7]

An important settlement for more than two millennia, Paris is today one of the world’s leading business and cultural centres, and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world’s major global cities.[8] According to 2005 estimates, the Paris urban area is Europe’s biggest city economy,[9] and is fifth in the world’s list of cities by GDP.[10]

Paris and the Paris Region, with €533.6 billion (US$731.3 billion) in 2007, produces more than a quarter of the gross domestic product (GDP) of France.[11] The Paris Region hosts 38 of the Fortune Global 500 companies[12] in several business districts, notably La Défense, the largest purpose-built business district in Europe.[13] Paris also hosts many international organizations such as UNESCO, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the informal Paris Club.

They are evergreen shrubs (rarely small trees) growing to 0.5-5 m tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, tough and leathery, simple, linear to lanceolate, 2-12 cm long and 0.5-3 cm broad, with a serrated margin or serrated at the leaf apex only. The flowers are produced in dense inflorescences, which have large numbers of prominent styles, which inspires the name.

The genus is closely related in evolution and appearance to the Australian genus Banksia.
Species
Leucospermum album Bond
Leucospermum arenarium – Redelinghuis Pincushion
Leucospermum attenuatum R.Br.
Leucospermum bolusii E.Phillips – Gordon’s Bay Pincushion
Leucospermum calligerum – Arid Pincushion
Leucospermum catherinae Compton – Catherine-wheel Pincushion
Leucospermum conocarpodendron (L.) H.St.John – Tree Pincushion
Leucospermum conocarpum R.Br.
Leucospermum cordatum – Heart-leaf Pincushion
Leucospermum cordifolium (Salisb. ex Knight) Fourc.
Leucospermum cuneiforme (Burm.) Rourke – Wart-stemmed Pincushion
Leucospermum erubescens – Oudtshoorn Pincushion
Leucospermum formosum – Silver-leaf Wheel Pincushion
Leucospermum gerrardii – Soapstone Pincushion
Leucospermum glabrum – Outeniqua Pincushion
Leucospermum gracile – Hermanus Pincushion
Leucospermum grandiflorum R.Br. – Grey-leaf Fountain Pincushion
Leucospermum gueinzii – Kloof Fountain Pincushion
Leucospermum harmatum – Ruitersbos Pincushion