Author Archives: Cris

Sea-Lavender

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Sea-Lavender

Sea-lavenders are just full of variety and colour.

  • Sea-lavenders are a genus of at least 150 flowering plants that are either perennial or annual, depending on the species, that are commonly found in salt marshes, and rocky, desert, or coastal habitats.
  • ‘Sea-lavender’ is also known as ‘marsh-rosemary’, ‘caspia’, and ‘statice’, although these names may only refer to certain species of the plant.
  • The scientific name of sea lavender is Limonium and it is from the family Plumbaginaceae, the family of plumbagos or leadworts.
  • Sea-lavenders have native species in all continents except South America and Antarctica, with a high concentration of species in the Mediterranean and west to central Asian regions.
  • The sea-lavender genus has an extensive height range of 0.1 to 2 metres (0.3 to 6.6 feet) according to species, however, they are more commonly 0.1 to 0.7 metres (0.3 to 2.3 feet) high.

Sea-Lavender, Plant, Vegetation, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Purple, Australia, Genus

  • The showy calyx surrounding a sea-lavender flower is often considered the ‘flower’, even though technically it isn’t, and it can be coloured purple, pink and violet, as well as the occasional yellow or white; while the actual flower is generally small and often white in colour.
  • The leaves of sea-lavenders usually grow at the base of the plant and are generally of a leathery texture, and depending on the species, range from 1 to 30 centimetres (0.4 to 11.8 inches) in length.
  • Sea-lavender flowers usually sit in clusters on tall stems above the leaves, and typically bloom in summer, however some early bloomers can be found in spring, while others can be found flowering in autumn.
  • Some species of sea-lavender are used decoratively in gardens or for other landscaping purposes, and they are often used as cut flowers or dried flowers, due to the long lasting and colourful papery calyx.
  • The scientific name of sea-lavenders, ‘Limonium’, comes from Latin, which originally came from the Ancient Greek word for ‘meadow’, ‘leimōn’.
Bibliography:
Genus Limonium, n.d, PlantNET, http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=gn&name=Limonium
Limonium, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limonium
McKinley B & Wright B, Limonium, statice, caspia, 2007, My Teleflora, https://www.myteleflora.com/uploadedFiles/Contents/Design_Education/Floral_Publication_Collection/Flowers-And_Article_Archive/Limonium-June%2007.pdf
Plant Profile: Limonium, 2014, Gardening Australia, http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866714.htm

 

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Wedding Ring

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Wedding Ring

A wedding ring is virtually part of many a person’s identity.

  • A wedding ring is a jewellery item, generally given and worn as a symbol of a person’s marriage.
  • Wedding rings are most frequently made of a metal such as platinum, gold or palladium, and are sometimes decorated with jewels or precious stones, and/or engraved with words or patterns.
  • ‘Wedding rings’ are also known as ‘wedding bands’, and they are typically exchanged during a marriage ceremony.
  • Wedding rings are thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt, made of reeds or other plant material, but later leather, ivory or bones became more common due to their durability, and in Roman times, iron became a popular choice.
  • It is traditional for a wedding ring to be placed on the fourth, or ring finger, more commonly on the left hand, and some people rarely remove their ring, wearing it both night and day.

Wedding Ring, Trivia, Invention, Jewelry, Assortment, Band

  • In a number of countries, wedding rings were originally exclusively given to the female of a wedded pair, and this is still the case in some places; though, in the United States, by the end of the 1940s, rings given to both genders became the norm, particularly due to the ongoing public promotion by jewellers.
  • Historically, the value of a wedding ring often symbolised the extent of love the giver had for the receiver, and commonly the cost of the ring was associated with the means of the giver.
  • Wedding rings, or more specifically circles, were a symbol of eternity in Ancient Egypt, describing eternal love between the partners, however on its adaption into Roman culture, the ring’s meaning grew into a symbol of a man’s possession over a woman.
  • According to popular legend, the fourth finger is believed to contain the mythical ‘love vein’ (Vena amoris), hence the wedding ring’s traditional position on the left hand; however, the position possibly originated from the Christian practice of a priest touching the first three fingers with the ring to symbolise the holy trinity, and then placing the ring on the fourth finger; or it may simply be that the ring was traditionally placed on one of the least used fingers on the least dominant hand to avoid wear of the material.
  • Some cultures consider the wedding ring to be the final gift in a series of wedding gifts, and it may be the second ring given, the first being an ‘engagement ring’, however, for some people, it may be the only ring given.
Bibliography:
Fox C, History of the Wedding Ring, 2010, America’s Collectible Network, http://www.jtv.com/library/wedding-ring-history.html
The Origins of Wedding Rings and Why They’re Worn on the 4th Finger of the Left Hand, 2010, Today I Found Out, http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/09/the-origin-of-wedding-rings-and-why-theyre-worn-on-the-4th-finger-of-the-left-hand/
Wedding Ring, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_ring

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Prskalo Waterfall

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Prskalo Waterfall

Prskalo Waterfall is one powerful sprinkler.

  • Prskalo Waterfall is a unique waterfall located in the Kučaj Mountains in the eastern area of Serbia, Europe, in the Nekudovo River Valley.
  • The name ‘Prskalo’ in reference to the Prskalo Waterfall, can be translated as ‘splashed’ in the native language.
  • Prskalo Waterfall is known for its towering tapered cliff-like shape, that drops water through a small channel.
  • Prskalo Waterfall is quite isolated, accessible only by venturing through a rough deserted forest road.
  • A small spring located upstream provides the water for Prskalo Waterfall, and despite the waterfall’s small size, the water that drops has a quite powerful force.

Prskalo Waterfall, Site, Serbia, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Place, landform

Prskalo Waterfall
Disclaimer: image found online and assumed public domain
  • The appearance of Prskalo Waterfall cliff is often compared to a large man-made artistic structure, due to its unusual narrow cliff form, with the waterfall situated centrally at the end.
  • Prskalo Waterfall is located at an elevation of approximately 760 metres (2493 feet) and is approximately 17 kilometres (10.6 miles) from the closest sealed road.
  • Layers of limestone rock, known as ‘tufa’, forms the majority of the natural structure that is Prskalo Waterfall.
  • The height of the Prskalo Waterfall is between 12 and 15 metres (39 to 49 feet).
  • In winter, Prskalo Waterfall freezes over, while in early spring and after rain there is much more water flowing in the fall, and in summer it generally has less water.
Bibliography:
Prskalo Waterfall, 2016, This is Serbia, http://serbia.vavok.net/page/waterfall-prskalo/
Prskalo Waterfall – Unique Natural Wonder of Serbia, 2015, Slavs, http://meettheslavs.com/prskalo-waterfall-unique-natural-wonder-of-serbia/
These places really are in Serbia # 4, n.d, Cicimici, http://cicimici.rs/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=153&Itemid=148&lang=en
Top Jeeper’s Camping Spots of Eastern Serbia, 2013, Serbian Outdoor 4×4, http://4×4.serbianoutdoor.com/2013/08/top-camping-spots/
Waterfall Prskalo 2, 2015, Summit Post, http://www.summitpost.org/waterfall-prskalo-2/263205

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Asian Giant Hornet

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Asian Giant Hornet

You’ll thank your lucky stars when you don’t aggravate an Asian giant hornet.

  • Asian giant hornets are the largest extant species of hornet, and are native to the East Asian tropics.
  • ‘Asian giant hornets’ are also known as ‘yak-killer hornets’ and ‘giant sparrow bees’.
  • The scientific name of Asian giant hornets is Vespa mandarinia and it is from the family Vespidae, a family of wasps.
  • The diet of Asian giant hornets consists primarily of beetles, as well as large insects including honey bees, as well as tree sap, honey and soft fruit, however, the adults are only able to consume liquid, though they chew solid food and feed it to their larvae.
  • Asian giant hornets reach 3.5 to 5.5 centimetres (1.4 to 2.2 inches) in length and have a wingspan of 3.5 to 7.6 centimetres (1.4 to 3 inches); and they can devastate a hive of bees in six hours or less.
Giant Asian Hornet, Trivia, Bug, Ten Random Facts, Bee, Yellow, Black, Striped, Dead
Asian Giant Hornet
Image courtesy of t-mizo/Flickr
  • Asian giant hornets have a yellow to orange coloured head with a black to brown thorax, and a striped yellow/orange and black abdomen.
  • It is common for Asian giant hornets to live and nest underground, often under large tree roots abandoned by a past animal, however the hornets can dig if need be.
  • Asian giant hornets have a 6 millimetre long stinger (0.24 inch) that can painfully inject toxins that are potentially fatal if stung in succession, and they are said to cause the deaths of 60 to 100 people across Japan and China each year, with symptoms that include cardiac arrest, organ failure and anaphylaxis.
  • Asian giant hornets communicate primarily through the expulsion and trailing of scented chemicals known as ‘pheromones’, even uniquely marking food sources including hives with such a scent.
  • Asian giant hornets have a life span of three months up to one year, depending on their gender and role in the hive; and the queen will initially lay as many as 40 eggs, however as the year progresses, she will usually lay many thousands.
Bibliography:
Asian Giant Hornets, 2016, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/asian-giant-hornet/
Asian Giant Hornets, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_giant_hornet
Lallanilla M, Killer Hornets Terrorize China, 2013, Live Science, http://www.livescience.com/39988-killer-hornets-terrorize-china.html
Weaver C, This Hornet Will Be the Last Thing You See Before You Die, 2013, Gawker, http://gawker.com/this-hornet-will-be-the-last-thing-you-see-before-you-d-1428724767
Vespa mandarinia, 2016, Animal Diversity Web, http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Vespa_mandarinia/

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Sugar Apple

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Sugar Apple

Sugar apples are sweet delicacies with no added sugar. Amazing, right?

  • Sugar apples are a type of fruit grown on trees that have their origins in the Americas.
  • The scientific name of the plant bearing sugar apples is Annona squamosa and it is from the family Annonaceae, the family of custard apples, however many commercial varieties are hybrids of Annona squamosa and Annona cherimola, of which the fruit is sometimes known as ‘atemoya’.
  • A ‘sugar apple’ is also known as ‘ata’, ‘aati’, ‘annon’, ‘sweetsop’, ‘pineapple sugar-apple’ – which usually refers to the hybrid ‘atemoya’, ‘sweet apple’, and ‘custard apple’, although the latter term can also refer to fruit of other species in the same genus.
  • Sugar apples are a heart, conical or roundish shape, and generally reach a diameter of 5 to 15 centimetres (2 to 6 inches) or more and can weigh between 100 grams and 3 kilograms (3.5 ounces to 6.6 pounds), depending on the species or variety.
  • Sugar apples are typically bumpy in appearance, and their skin is generally a dark green colour which changes to a light green, sometimes with a yellow, blue or red tinge when ripe, and, the flesh is a white or creamy colour.

Sugar Apple, Custard Apple, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Green, Cut, Fruit, Exotic, African Pride, Trivia, Vegetation

Custard Apple
Image courtesy of Hort Innovation
  • The flesh of sugar apples is quite slippery and juicy, and has a soft texture; and depending on the variety, it may have segments.
  • Sugar apples notably have a flavour comparable to custard, and are otherwise particularly sweet, and they are usually eaten raw and sometimes made into a drink with the addition of ice-cream or milk.
  • Sugar apples are popularly cultivated in a number of regions around the world, including parts of Asia and Australia, as well as other tropical or sub-tropical areas.
  • Around 20 to 40 black seeds can be found in most sugar apple varieties, which contain a toxin and thus should not be consumed.
  • Sugar apples are extremely high in vitamin C and are a good source of vitamin B6 and fibre, and they contain many other vitamins and minerals.
Bibliography:
Sugar Apple, 2016, Purdue Agriculture, https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/sugar_apple.html
Sugar-apple, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar-apple
Australian Custard Apples, 2016, Hort Innovation, http://www.custardapple.com.au/

Hairy Portulaca

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Hairy Portulaca

The hairy portulaca’s way of growing is truly dependent on the climate.

  • A hairy portulaca is a flowering species of annual succulent plant, that originated in the Americas, though it is sometimes grown as a perennial.
  • ‘Hairy portulacas’ are also known as ‘hairy pigweeds’, ‘kiss-me-quicks’ and ‘akulikulis’, and they may also be called ‘moss roses’, although this title is also often used to refer to other species in the same genus.
  • The scientific name of a hairy portulaca is Portulaca pilosa and it is from the family Portulacaceae, the family of purslanes.
  • Hairy portulacas grow to be 5 to 20 centimetres (2 to 8 inches) in height and have a tendency to spread across the ground.
  • Hairy portulacas mostly bloom in the summer months, and the flowers range from 0.5 to 1.5 centimetres (0.2 to 0.6 inches) in diameter and are coloured pink, purple or red.

Hairy Portulaca, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Pink, Flower, Vegetation, Trivia, Garden, Bright

  • The growing habit of hairy portulacas depends on the climate, as warm and moist climates cause the plant to spread, while it tends to grow upwards in cooler and less moist climates.
  • Numerous white hairs sprout from the branches of hairy portulacas, and the hairs tend to be more plentiful on plants in habitats with less water.
  • Hairy portulacas are commonly used ornamentally, particularly to cover rocks or other surfaces like a mat, however in some parts of the world, including parts of Asia and Australia, the plant is considered a weed.
  • Historically, hairy portulaca plants have been used to treat fevers or used for pain relief in traditional medicine in Brazil.
  • Extract of the hairy portulaca plant is often used in some cosmetic products, and in particular, skin conditioning.
Bibliography:
Portulaca pilosa, 2013, Australian Portulaca, http://australianportulaca.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/portulaca-pilosa.html
Portulaca pilosa, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_pilosa
Portulaca pilosa, n.d, Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants, http://keys.trin.org.au/key-server/data/0e0f0504-0103-430d-8004-060d07080d04/media/Html/taxon/Portulaca_pilosa.htm
Portulaca pilosa  L. 1753, 2010, Some Magnetic Island Plants, http://www.somemagneticislandplants.com.au/index.php/plants/841-portulaca-pilosa

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