Category Archives: Vegetation

Hibiscus

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Hibiscus

The hibiscus genus.

  • Hibiscus are perennial and annual flowering small trees and shrubs of the same-named genus, of which there are approximately 300 different species.
  • Hibiscus are from the family Malvaceae, the family of mallows, and they generally have glossy green leaves, and a distinct long stamen.
  • Hibiscus often have brightly coloured flowers that are sometimes variegated and can have double petals, in colours of pink, purple, white, yellow, orange and/or red.
  • Hibiscus flowers have at least 5 petals forming a trumpet, and spread 4 to 18 centimetres (1.5 to 7 inches) in diameter.
  • The word ‘hibiscus’ comes from ‘hibískos’, a Greek word named for the plant, and they are also known as ‘rose mallows’, with different species having other common names.

Hibiscus, flower, red, australia, orange, Decorative, Single, Ten Random Facts

  • Hibiscus plants grow to be around 1.5 to 3 metres (5 to 10 feet) in height, although there are some species that grow taller than this, and they are commonly used for ornamental or landscaping purposes in gardens.
  • Hibiscus flowers are commonly dried and can be made into tea, cold drinks, used as food colouring, added to salads, or be cooked and eaten, typically in Mexican cuisine.
  • Hibiscus are native to mainly warm areas around the world, with different species being native to specific areas, including Asia, Australia and the Pacific islands.
  • Hibiscus is the recognised national flower of Malaysia, South Korea and the Republic of Haiti.
  • Hibiscus can be made into shampoo and has been used medicinally, notably for lowering blood pressure.
Bibliography:
Hibiscus, 2002, Burke’s Backyard, http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Flowering-Plants-and-Shrubs/Hibiscus/107
Hibiscus, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus

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Maidenhair Fern

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Maidenhair Fern

Keep up the water to your maidenhair ferns.

  • Maidenhair ferns are a group of ferns of which there are approximately 200 species.
  • Maidenhair ferns are from the family Pteridaceae, the family of ferns, and has the scientific name Adiantum.
  • Maidenhair ferns have soft textures and lacy appearances, although textures and appearance vary among the species.
  • Maidenhair ferns are generally green in colour with black or brown leaf stems, although the colours of the leaves can be variegated.
  • Maidenhair ferns are deciduous, grow from rhizomes, and reach up to 1 metre (3 feet) in height.

Maidenhair Fern, Green, Plant, Vegetation, Genus, Adiantum, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Maidenhair ferns are typically used as an ornamental plant, both indoors and outdoors, and are often grown in pots, terrariums and hanging baskets.
  • Maidenhair ferns prefer a shady position in the garden, and if kept inside, then need to be grown in a well lit area.
  • ‘Adiantum’, the scientific name of maidenhair ferns, is from the Greek word ‘adiantos’, meaning ‘unwettable’, referring to the foliage of the plant that repels water.
  • Maidenhair ferns dry out quickly if not watered, but can be resurrected by cutting off dead branches and keeping the soil moist, and are not technically dead until green growth has not been seen for 18 months.
  • Maidenhair ferns are native to all continents except Antarctica, and grow best in moist habitats, particularly among rocks or near water features.
Bibliography:
Adiantum, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiantum
Maidenhair Fern, 2006, Burke’s Backyard, http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Indoor-and-Potted-Plant/Maidenhair-Fern/2156

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Cyclamen

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Cyclamen

Cyclamen… a hardy but beautiful plant.

  • Cyclamens are flowering perennial plants, that grow from tubers and are also called ‘sowbread’, as the tubers have been commonly eaten by wild pigs.
  • Cyclamens are native to parts of Europe, north Africa and west Asia.
  • Cyclamens were originally considered to belong to the family Primulaceae, the family of primroses, but are now considered to be part of the family Myrsinaceae, the family of myrsine.
  • Cyclamens develop flowers with five petals that point upwards, in various shades of white, red, pink or purple colours.
  • There are approximately 20 species of cyclamens, and they have different flowering seasons, depending on the species.

Cyclamen, Red, Green, Flower, Plant, Large, Fence, Decorative, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Cyclamens can be found in woody or rocky areas, and are generally hardy plants, although some species do not cope with frost.
  • Cyclamens prefer shady conditions and are popularly used as a decorative house or garden plant, and are often grown in pots.
  • Cyclamen leaves are are often heart shaped, and typically green with sometimes a red coloured underside, and the leaves usually have a distinctive pattern in a lighter colour.
  • Cyclamens grow to be 15 to 25 centimetres (6 to 10 inches) in height and the flowers usually sit above the leaves of the plant on thin stems.
  • Some cyclamens go dormant in summer and appear to be dead, however, they will generally re-sprout leaves in autumn.
Bibliography:
Cyclamen, 2014, Burke’s Backyard, http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Flowering-Plants-and-Shrubs/Cyclamen/1296
Cyclamen, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclamen
Perry L, Considering Cyclamen, n.d., University of Vermont Extension, http://perrysperennials.info/articles/cyclamen.html

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Malabar Spinach

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Malabar Spinach

Malabar spinach is not spinach at all.

  • Malabar spinach is eaten like a leafy vegetable, and is a perennial vine, although it is often grown as an annual in cooler climates as frost affects the plant.
  • ‘Malabar spinach’ is also known as ‘creeping spinach’,  ‘climbing spinach’, ‘Indian spinach’, ‘Chinese spinach’, ‘vine spinach’, ‘Vietnamese spinach’ and ‘Ceylon spinach’.
  • Malabar spinach has the scientific name of Basella alba, a white flowering, green stem variety, or Basella rubra, a plant that has red stems.
  • Malabar spinach is from the family Basellaceae, the family of some flowering plants including a number of other vines, with edible leaves and roots.
  • In a tropical environment, a Malabar spinach vine can grow up to a height of 10 metres (33 feet).

Malabar Spinach, Green, Glossy, Plant, Compost, Leaf, Vegetable, Food, Ten Random Facts

  • Malabar spinach has thick, green glossy leaves that can grow quite large, and berries that contain a red liquid that can be used as dye.
  • Malabar spinach leaves are commonly used in Asian cuisine, either cooked or raw, and they are said to have pepper and citrus flavours when raw, as well as being high in iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin A, fibre and other vitamins and minerals.
  • Malabar spinach, although named ‘spinach’, is not from the spinach family at all, although it tends to resemble spinach when it is cooked.
  • Malabar spinach is a great thickener for soup and other dishes, due to the mucilage (glutinous carbohydrate) content in the plant, that tends to cause the leaves to become slimy if they are cooked for more than a short time.
  • Malabar spinach grows best in a sunny area and warm climate, and is a great summer vegetable.
Bibliography:
Basella Alba, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basella_alba
Malabar Spinach, 2013, Survival Food Plants, http://www.survivalfoodplants.com/malabar-indian-spinach-basella-alba/
Stunning (Malabar) Spinach, 2013, A Farm of Your Home, http://www.afarmofyourhome.com/stunning-malabar-spinach/

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Camphor Laurel

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Camphor Laurel

Sit under the shade of a camphor laurel tree.

  • Camphor laurels are large shade trees that are evergreen and are typically used in parkland areas and gardens as an ornamental tree.
  • ‘Camphor laurels’ are also known as ‘camphor trees’ and ‘camphorwood’.
  • The scientific name of a camphor laurel tree is Cinnamomum camphora, from the family Lauraceae, the family of laurels.
  • Camphor laurels grow to be 20 to 30 metres (65 to 100 feet) in height and can live for hundreds of years.
  • Camphor laurel leaves are typically green and glossy, and if they are crushed they give off a camphor scent.

camphor laurel, tree, water, Brisbane, vegetation, large, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • In spring, camphor laurel trees have tiny flowers that are generally white in colour, that develop into small green berries that turn black when ripe, that contain a seed.
  • Camphor laurels are a significantly invasive species in Australia’s Queensland and New South Wales and in the United State’s Florida, as well as a weed in other states of the United States, and they are commonly spread by birds and animals that eat the berries and expel the seeds.
  • Camphor laurel trees produce camphor, that is extracted from the wood, which are chemical crystals that have a waxy texture and are used as a moth repellent, as well as for medicinal and culinary purposes.
  • Camphor laurels have a tendency to have a spreading and invasive root system that can disturb buildings and underground water and waste services.
  • Camphor laurels are native to south-east Asia, including China, Japan, Borneo, Taiwan, Vietnam and Korea and prefer hot, damp conditions.
Bibliography:
Cinnamomum camphora, 2009, Metropolitan Tree Growers, http://www.metrotrees.com.au/treehandbook/page-listings/cinnamomum-camphora.html
Cinnamomum camphora, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamomum_camphora
D Firth, Camphor laurel, 2009, NSW Government: Department of Primary Industries, http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds/profiles/camphor-laurel

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Spear Thistle

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Spear Thistle

Spear thistles are not used as weapons… but can hurt!

  • Spear thistles are a biennial or annual thistle plant native to Europe, Asia and Northern Africa.
  • Spear thistles have the scientific name Cirsium vulgare and they are from the family Asteraceae, the family of asters, sunflowers and daisies.
  • ‘Spear thistles’ are also known as ‘bull thistles’, ‘black thistles’,  ‘scotch thistles’  ‘Fuller’s thistles’, ‘swamp thistles’ and ‘common thistles’ among others.
  • Spear thistles grow to be 1 to 1.5 metres (3.3 to 5 feet) in height, with flower stems at the end of the branches, and look similar to the well known Scotch thistle or cotton thistle, although they are a different species of plant and have the scientific name Onopordum acanthium.
  • Spear thistles have flower heads that are bristle like and are coloured pink to purple, and the plant has green, sharp spiny leaves.

Spear Thistle, Green, Purple, Pink, Flower, Dead, Green, Ten Random Facts, Australia, Plant, Weed, Spiky, Prickly,

  • Spear thistles are classified as a noxious and an environmental weed in some countries, and is a particular problem in Australia, parts of the United States and the United Kingdom.
  • Spear thistles typically grow in sunny open areas, such as paddocks and fields.
  • Spear thistle stems, flowers, roots, and seeds can be eaten and the stems and leaves can be peeled and then steamed or boiled.
  • Spear thistles flower during spring to autumn, but only in their second year of growth.
  • Spear thistle plants have been used medicinally and parts of the plant can be made into paper.
Bibliography:
Bull Thistle, 2014, King Country, http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsAndPlants/noxious-weeds/weed-identification/bull-thistle.aspx
Cirsium vulgare, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirsium_vulgare

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