Category Archives: Vegetation

Orange Trumpet Creeper

By | |
Leave a comment
Orange Trumpet Creeper

Trumpeting Creeping Flowers – NOT.

  • Orange trumpet creepers are also known as ‘flame vines’, ‘venusta vines’, ‘Japanese honeysuckles’ (although the vine isn’t a honeysuckle), ‘Chinese cracker flowers’ and ‘golden showers’.
  • Orange trumpet creepers are from the family Bignoniaceae, and are a relative to Jacarandas.
  • The scientific name of the orange trumpet creeper is ‘pyrostegia venusta’, a combination of Greek and Latin words meaning ‘ beautiful flame covering’.
  • Orange trumpet creepers are large and long evergreen vines that grow quickly and flower mainly in winter, although they often flower in autumn and sometimes  during spring.
  • Orange trumpet creepers have beautiful, grouped, tubular, red, orange or yellow coloured flowers, that are 4 to 8 cm (1.6 to 3.1 inches) in length.

Orange Trumpet Creeper, Flame, Orange, Vine, Plant, Flower, Vegetation, Pretty Beautiful, Ten Random Facts, Australia.

  • Orange trumpet creepers can grow up to 30 meters (98 feet) in length and are a popular garden plant because of their stunning flowers and their good foliage that can grow over and cover large supports like fences, tanks, carports, and large archways.
  • Orange trumpet creepers are native to Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay.
  • Orange trumpet creepers can be easily grown from cuttings and the plant can sometimes spread due to branches taking root in the ground.
  • Orange trumpet creepers are found in forest, shrubby and rocky habitats and they prefer warmer climates and do not like the cold.
  • Orange trumpet creepers are considered a weed in some countries and are said to be an invasive plant in some areas because they are easily grown and can smother trees and native vegetation.
Bibliography:
Orange Trumpet Creeper, 2006, Burkes Backyard, <http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Climbers/Orange-Trumpet-Creeper/2109>
Pyrostegia Venusta, 2011, Some Magnetic Island Plants, <http://www.somemagneticislandplants.com.au/index.php/plants/299-pyrostegia-venusta>
Rix, M 2011, Pyrostegia Venusta, Kew, <http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Pyrostegia-venusta.htm>

Prickly Pear

By | |
Leave a comment
Prickly Pear

Prickly monster.

  • Prickly pear is also known as ‘nopal cactus’ and ‘paddle cactus’ and comes from the genus Opuntia which contains more than 150 species.
  • Prickly pears are from the family Cactaceae, which is the family of cacti and are native to North and South America and some of the surrounding islands.
  • Prickly pears have green, flat, oval shaped leaves called pads, that have long and short prickles that break off easily and irritate human skin.
  • Prickly pears have become an invasive weed in parts of Africa, Australia and Europe, where they were introduced as ornamental plants, fences and barriers, and for stock feed.
  • Prickly pears have edible fruit known as ‘cactus fruit’, ‘cactus fig’, ‘Indian fig’ and ‘tuna’, and are mainly red in colour, although other varieties include yellowy orange and green, and are high in Vitamin C.

 Prickly Pear, Invasive, Green, Fruit, Tall, Desert, Bare, Australia, Fruitful, Ten Random

  • Cochineal, a scale insect, is a common pest on prickly pear plants, and the insects are collected to make a valuable red dye called cochineal, which is used to dye fabric, cosmetics, and food.
  • The fruit and pads of prickly pears can be eaten, once the skin and prickles are removed, and the pads can be cooked like a vegetable and have been used in Mexican cooking for hundreds of years.
  • In 1788, prickly pears were introduced in Australia for the purpose of producing cochineal to dye the red coats required for the British army, however, by the 1920s prickly pears had invaded 58 million acres (24 million hectares) of land, much of it good farming land, so the cactoblastis moth was introduced to control the cactus, and was so effective, that much of the land was reclaimed.
  • The fruit of prickly pears are said to taste like a combination of bubblegum and watermelon, and can be made into candy, jam or beverages, or eaten raw, although some people do not like to eat the hard edible seeds.
  • A prickly pear can be found on the Mexican coat of arms and is said to symbolise the hard times and difficulties that have passed and will come.
Bibliography:
Opuntia, 2013, Wikipedia, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opuntia>

Rhaphiolepis

By | |
Leave a comment
Rhaphiolepis

Another pretty flower.

  • Rhaphiolepis is a flowering genus that is from the family Rosaceae, the family of roses, and the genus is a close relative to loquats.
  • Rhaphiolepis is an evergreen plant that grows as a small shrub or as big as a small tree, and are generally best grown in full sun.
  • South East Asia is the native home of Rhaphiolepis, and it can be found in southern Japan, Korea and China, as well as Thailand and Vietnam.
  • There are fifteen species of Rhaphiolepis, the most common, Rhaphiolepis indica is known as Indian hawthorn, despite being native to China, and is considered as a weed in some areas.
  • Rhaphiolepis can grow from 60 cm to 10 metres (2 to 32.8 feet) in height, depending on the species.

Flower, Pink, Raphiolepis genus, blue, berries, flower, leafs, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Rhaphiolepis has five petal flowers that are white to pink in colour, that usually have a sweet smell, and small berries, pomes, that range from purple, blue and black in colour.
  • In humid environments, Rhaphiolepis is quite vunerable to the disease leaf spot, where dark spots, caused by a fungus, form on the plant’s leaves.
  • Rhaphiolepis are commonly used as a hedging plant, and Rhaphiolepis indica makes an excellent bonsai specimen.
  • The hardiest species of Rhaphiolepis, Rhaphiolepis umbellata, is known as Yeddo hawthorn, or Japanese hawthorn, and can withstand temperatures as low as -15 °C (5 °F), strong winds and salt spray, and is native to Japan and Korea.
  • The fruit of some species of Rhaphiolepis can be cooked into jam, and the bark of the Japanese hawthorn, Rhaphiolepis umbellata is used to make a brown dye.
Bibliography:
Rhaphiolepis, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhaphiolepis>

Bougainvillea

By | |
Leave a comment
Bougainvillea

Everyone look at me!

  • Bougainvilleas are a woody vine from the family Nyctaginaceae, which is the family of Four O’Clock plants.
  • Bougainvilleas are also known as Napoleón, veranera, trinitaria, Santa Rita and papelillo.
  • South America is the native home of bougainvillea plants, and in its natural tropical growing environment, it flowers all year.
  • Bougainvilleas grow 1-12 metres (3 to 39 feet) in height depending on the species, and can be grown in pots, as a bonsai, in hanging baskets, along walls, over trellises, as a hedge and other places in the garden.
  • Bougainvilleas were first recorded by the Europeans, by French botanist Philibert Commerçon, in the 1760s.

Bougainvillea, Pink, Flowers, Bunch, Stem, House, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • The bougainvillea was named by Commerçon, after the French admiral, Loui-Antoine de Bougainville, who was an explorer, and whom Commerçon had joined for an expedition around the world.
  • Bougainvilleas are evergreen and grow well in warm to hot climates, although they can become dormant and lose their leaves in winter if it becomes too cold, and they can be damaged  by frosts.
  • Bougainvillea flowers are generally white or cream coloured, and are sometimes overlooked, as the papery bracts surrounding them easily distract with their vibrant colours of pink, white, orange, purple or burgundy.
  • Bougainvilleas need good drainage, are very hardy once established, can tolerate salty environments, and are not usually attacked by pests.
  • Bougainvilleas are a popular garden plant, due to their stunningly coloured bracts and their versatility in the garden.
Bibliography:
Bougainvillea 101, 2013, BGI,  <http://www.bgi-usa.com/kb/bougainvillea-101/>
Plant Profile: Bougainvillea, 2011, Gardening Australia, <http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866496.htm>

Moses-in-the-Cradle

By | |
4 Comments
Moses-in-the-Cradle

It’s actually a flowering plant.

  • Moses-in-the-cradle is a plant from the family Commelinaceae, which is the family of day flowers, wandering jew and spiderworts.
  • Moses-in-the-cradle is a perennial clumping plant native to southern Mexico, and Central America, and grows to approximately 30 cm (11.8 inches).
  • Moses-in-the-cradle’s scientific name was originally Rhoeo discolour, then Rhoeo spathacea and it is now Tradescantia spathacea.
  • Moses-in-the-cradle’s scientific name is named after John Tradescant senior and junior who were plant importers and collectors in the 16th and 17th centuries.
  • Moses-in-the-cradle is also known by many other names, including ‘boat lily’; ‘cradle lily’, ‘oyster plant’ and other variations of ‘Moses-in-the-cradle’.

 Moses-in-a-Cradle, Plant, Green, Purple, white, Background, brick, stone, three, flowerless

  • Moses-in-the-cradle plants have attractive dark green leaves, with a purple underside, and are generally grown for their foliage.
  • Moses-in-the-cradle plants can be easily grown from cuttings, seeds or discarded or damaged plants, and are very hardy, although they don’t like frost.
  • Moses-in-the-cradle plants can self pollinate, and they develop small, white, three petalled flowers that open out of purple boat or cradle shaped bracts, at any time of the year, hence the name ‘Moses-in-the-cradle’.
  • Moses-in-the-cradle plants have been introduced in many parts of the world, and they have become an invasive pest in many areas, including Florida, United States and some parts of Australia, as they can grow almost anywhere and can even be found growing on walls.
  • The sap of Moses-in-the-cradle plants can cause stinging and will burn one’s mouth and throat if any of the plant is consumed.
Bibliography:
Tradescantia Spathacea, 2012, Some Magnetic Island Plants, <http://www.somemagneticislandplants.com.au/index.php/plants/374-tradescantia-spathacea>

Carnation

By | |
Leave a comment
Carnation

So many pretty colours.

  • Carnations are flowering plants from the family Dianthus and their scientific name is Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • It is believed that carnations are native to the Mediterranean area.
  • Carnation plants grow up to 80cm (31.5 inches) in height and the flowers grow to  3 to 9 cm (1.1 to 3.5 inches) in diameter.
  • The world’s biggest producer of carnations is Colombia, South America and the country provides the United States with 4/5 of its carnations.
  • Carnation flowers are generally sweet smelling and usually have serrated single or double petals.

Carnation, white, red, pink, yellow, bunch, valentines, bouquet, pretty, Ten Random Facts

  • Carnations are often worn on special occasions, most notably for weddings and on Mothers Day.
  • Carnations are the national flower of Spain, Monaco and Slovenia.
  • Carnation flowers were originally pink and peach, but now come in a wider variety of colours, including red, white, yellow and green.
  • The Greek botanist and philosopher, Theophrastus, made mention of carnations in his writings in approximately 300 BC, naming them ‘dianthus’, meaning ‘divine flower’.
  • Carnations have always been a popular cut flower, as they last well in water once cut.
Bibliography:
Dianthus caryophyllus, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianthus_caryophyllus>
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...