Category Archives: Vegetation

Golden Rain Tree

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Golden Rain Tree

Golden rain trees are like gold.

  • Golden rain trees are ornamental flowering trees that are deciduous and useful for shade.
  • The scientific name of a golden rain tree is ‘Koelreuteria paniculata’ and it comes from the Sapindaceae family, the family of soapberries.
  • Golden rain trees are native to Korea and China and typically grow to be 7 to 12 metres (23 to 40 feet) in height.
  • ‘Golden rain tree’ is also known as a ‘china tree’, the ‘pride of India’, and ‘varnish tree’.
  • Golden rain trees have small, yellow coloured,  four petalled blossoms, that bloom in summer or autumn, which can cause golden carpets below the tree when they drop.

Golden Rain Tree, Plant, house, leaves, large, red, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • Golden rain trees have coral or brown coloured paper-like pods that contain multiple dark coloured seeds, and ferny leaves that change colour at different stages.
  • Golden rain trees are grown decoratively in many countries, but in Florida and neighbouring states of the United States, the trees are invasive.
  • Golden rain trees grow best in sunny areas and can withstand droughts.
  • Golden rain tree seeds and leaves can be eaten, roasted or cooked respectively, although they are not commonly consumed.
  • Golden rain trees can be a source of yellow and black dye, and the seeds are sometimes used as a bead in jewellery making.
Bibliography:
Koelreuteria paniculata, 2012, Plants for a Future, http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Koelreuteria+paniculata
Koelreuteria paniculata, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koelreuteria_paniculata
Koelreuteria paniculata, n.d, Missouri Botanical Garden, http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a550

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Green Amaranth

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Green Amaranth

Green amaranths: a weed here or a food there.

  • Green amaranth is an annual herb that is generally believed to be native to tropical America.
  • Green amaranth comes from the family Amaranthaceae, the family of amaranths.
  • Green amaranths have the scientific name ‘Amaranthus viridis’, and ‘amaranthus’ comes from the Greek word meaning ‘everlasting’ or ‘unfading’  and ‘viridis’ is Latin for green’.
  • ‘Green amaranths’ are also known as ‘slender amaranths’, ‘green pigweed’, and ‘Prince of Wales feathers’.
  • Green amaranths grow to be 0.3 to 1 metre (1 to 3 feet) in height, and green and yellow dye can be made from the plant.

Green amaranth, plant, flower, red, leaves, weed, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Green amaranths have green notched leaves and tiny flowers that grow in clusters on spikes, and the flowers are a green or brown to pink colour.
  • Green amaranth fruits are small and round and do not open to release the small black seed they contain.
  • Green amaranths flower mainly during warm, summer months, however flowers can be seen throughout the year, depending on the region it is grown in.
  • Green amaranths are significant weeds in many countries, growing in gardens, cracks, disturbed areas, and in fields.
  • Green amaranths are eaten in Greece, India and Africa, as a leafy vegetable, and are also used medicinally for a variety of purposes.

 

Bibliography:
Amaranthus Viridus, n.d, Some Magnetic Island Plants, http://www.somemagneticislandplants.com.au/index.php/plants/42-amaranthus-viridis
Green Amaranth, n.d, Herbiguide, http://www.herbiguide.com.au/Descriptions/hg_Green_Amaranth.htm
Jansen P, Amaranthus viridus L., 2004, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa, http://database.prota.org/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dllAC=QBE_QUERY&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fdatabase.prota.org%2Fsearch.htm&TN=PROTAB~1&QB0=AND&QF0=Species+Code&QI0=Amaranthus+viridis&RF=Webdisplay

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White Poplar

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White Poplar

White poplars are very popular.

  • White poplars are deciduous trees from the poplar species and are native to central Europe and Asia.
  • White poplars were originally known as ‘abeles’ and are also known as ‘silverleaf poplars’ and ‘silver poplars’.
  • The scientific name for white poplars is ‘Populus alba’ and is from the family Salicaceae, the family of willows.
  • White poplars are quick growing trees and grow best in sunny areas and in moist soil.
  • White poplars grow to be a height of 16 to 27 metres (52.5 to 88.6 feet) and have leaves that are green on the top side, and are white and furry underneath, making it an eye-catching tree.

White poplar, plant, tree, Australia, Drive, Road, Park, Grass, Ten Random Facts

  • White poplars have greenish, greyish and whitish trunks that can have a notable pattern of dark coloured diamonds, although as the tree ages, the trunk can be quite rough and dark coloured.
  • White poplar flowers are up to 8 cm (3 inch) long cylindrical clusters known as ‘catkins’, with the female flowers being a yellow green colour, and the males are grey boasting a red stigma, and each tree only grows one gender of flower.
  • White poplars have been introduced into North America, South Africa and Australia, and in some states and countries have become invasive.
  • White poplar bark contains a chemical called salicylate, that can be used in aspirin medicine, and the bark can have yellow die extracted from it.
  • The inner bark and leaves of white poplars can be eaten, either made into a flour for bread or eaten raw, but they are not commonly used.

 

Bibliography:
Populus Alba – L, 2012, Plants for a Future, http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Populus+alba
Populus Alba, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Populus_alba

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Canna Indica

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Canna Indica

Canna indica can be very deadly.

  • Canna indica are perennial plants that are native to the Caribbean and American tropical habitats.
  • Canna indica is from the family Cannaceae, the family of canna lilies and is one of the 19 species in the group, and is also referred to by a number of other scientific names.
  • Canna indica is also known as ‘saka siri’, ‘canna’, ‘coyol’, ‘bandera’, ‘achira’, ‘platanillo’, ‘wild canna lily’, ‘Indian shot’ and ‘chanacle’.
  • Canna indica have small, black, spherical seeds that are dense and sink in water, and are hard enough to be used as bullets, hence one of its common names ‘Indian shot’.
  • Canna indica prefer moist, sunny conditions and are often used as an ornamental in the garden, or they can be found in swamps and wetlands, and are also able to be grown in chemically polluted water as a treatment solution.

Indian Shot, Red, yellow, flower, canna indica, Ten Random Facts, australia, garden

  • Canna indica plants grow to be 0.5 to 2.4 metres (1.6 to 8.0 feet) in height, and have papery seed capsules after flowering
  • The rhizomes of Canna indica are edible and are served cooked, and they have also been used medicinally.
  • Canna indica have red or yellow coloured flowers sometimes with spots, that flower in autumn and summer and its large green leaves can be used for paper making.
  • Canna indica seeds are commonly used as beads in jewellery and rattles in some musical instruments, and a purple dye can also be made from them.
  • Canna indica are invasive in many countries including Australia, some islands in the Pacific, and South Africa, and spread easily by their rhizomes and seeds.
Bibliography:
Canna Indica – L, 2012, Plants For a Future, http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Canna+indica
Canna Indica (Wild Canna Lily), 2011, BioNET-EAFRINET, http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/eafrinet/weeds/key/weeds/Media/Html/Canna_indica_(Wild_Canna_Lily).htm
Canna Indica, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canna_indica

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Blue Plumbago

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Blue Plumbago

Pretty, pretty blue plumbagos.

  • ‘Blue plumbagos’ are also known as ‘cape plumbagos’ and ‘cape leadworts’.
  • Blue plumbagos are from the family of Plumbaginaceae, which is the family of plumbagos and leadworts.
  • Blue plumbagos are decorative perennial flowering bushes that can climb, which are native to South Africa.
  • Blue plumbagos can grow up to be 6 metres (20 feet) in height, and sunny and semi-shaded areas are the best spots for them to grow.
  • Blue plumbagos have flowers that bloom in different shades of both blue and white that mainly flower in summer and autumn, and sticky hairs that are found near the flowers.

Blue Plambago, Flower, cape, Auriculanta, Ten Random Facts, Australia, Plant, Bush, Shrub, Bundle

  • The scientific name of a blue plumbago is ‘Plumbago auriculata’, with ‘auriculata’ referring to the ear-shaped leaves.
  • Blue plumbago flowers are approximately 1.5 cm (0.6 inch) in diameter, and they grown in clusters, and have long tubes at the base of the five petals.
  • Blue plumbagos have won the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society, and are popular in gardens.
  • Blue plumbagos often do not flower on the first year after the planting of its seed, from which it is readily grown.
  • Blue plumbago leaves are green and shiny and can grow up to 5 centimetres (2 inches) in length, that can attract some insect pests.
Bibliography:
Plumbago auriculta, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumbago_auriculata
Plumbago auriculta, n.d, Missouri Botanical Garden, http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a542

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Society Garlic

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Society Garlic

Society garlic is not actually garlic.

  • Society garlic is a perennial plant that flowers and grows from a bulbous rhizome, and it is from the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae, and the subfamily Allioideae, that was formerly called the Alliceae family (family of onions or alliums).
  • The leaves, flowers and stems of society garlic can be safely used in cuisine, often for garlic-like flavouring, popularly in salads or soups.
  • ‘Society garlic’ is also known as ‘wild garlic’ and is native to southern parts of Africa, and gets its common name for it being the preferred and more ‘polite’ herb for social events among the Dutch settlers there, rather than real garlic.
  • The scientific name of society garlic is ‘Tulbaghia violacea’, named after the mid 1700s governor of the Cape of Good Hope, Ryk Tulbagh, and ‘violacea’ refers to the appearance of the violet-like flowers.
  • Society garlic can grow to be a height of 60 centimetres (24 inches) and has long, thin leaves.

Society Garlic, Flowers, Pink, Onion, Ten Random Facts, Violet, Purple, flower, grass, Australia

  • Society garlic plants typically bloom in late spring, summer and autumn seasons, and have groups of flowers that appear on the top of a long stem.
  • Society garlic flowers are small and star shaped, with six petals and generally appear in shades of purple, most commonly violet.
  • Society garlic is commonly grown for decorative purposes in gardens or pots and has a distinct garlic smell.
  • Society garlic has won the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.
  • Society garlic is drought tolerant and generally prefers a sunny position in the garden.
Bibliography:
Tulbaghia violacea – Harv., 2012, Plants for a Future, http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tulbaghia+violacea
Tulbaghia violacea, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulbaghia_violacea
Tulbaghia violacea, 2004, Shireen Harris, http://www.plantzafrica.com/planttuv/tulbaghviol.htm

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