Tag Archives: Plant

Greater Periwinkle

By | |
Leave a comment
Greater Periwinkle

Greater periwinkles are greater than lesser periwinkles.

  • Greater periwinkles are also known as ‘big leaf periwinkles’, ‘large periwinkles’, ‘blue periwinkles’ and ‘blue buttons’.
  • The scientific name of greater periwinkles is ‘Vinca major’ and is from a family of six species of Vinca.
  • Greater periwinkles are native to Europe and North Africa and are from the family ‘Apocynaceae’, which is typically known as the dogbone family.
  • Greater periwinkles grow up to 50-70 cm (1.6 – 2 .3 feet) in height and spread 2-5 metres (6.6 – 16.4 feet) wide.
  • Greater periwinkles are ground vines with dark green coloured leaves that are glossy and sit in pairs opposite each other, with flowers that can bloom all year round, but generally in spring and summer.

Greater Periwinkle, Purple Flower, Multiple, Two, Bush, Violet, Lavendar, Colour, Austalia, Flower, Vegetation, Ten Random Facts

  • The flowers of greater periwinkles can be white or blue in colour but are typically coloured in purple shades and are 3-5 cm(1.2 – 2 inches) in diameter.
  • Greater periwinkles are an invasive weed in parts of Australia, New Zealand and United States, due to the ease of propagation from waste plant material.
  • Greater periwinkles are often mistaken for lesser periwinkles (Vinca minor) due to their similarities, although the flower and leaf sizes are larger in the greater, which also has tiny hairs on the leaves, that the lesser doesn’t.
  • The stems of greater periwinkles can be used for basket weaving and the plant is also used medicinally, although it is poisonous if large portions are consumed.
  • Greater periwinkles are happy to grow in shady areas and send down roots from their runners, making them easy to grow from cuttings.
Bibliography:
Vinca Major, 2013, Plants for a Future, <http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Vinca+major>
Vinca Major, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinca_major>

Amazon:     

Diosma

By | |
Leave a comment
Diosma

Teensy little diosma flowers.

  • Diosma is a woody shrub that is used to decorate gardens and can be also used as lovely filler in flower arrangements.
  • The scientific name of diosma is ‘Coleonema pulchellum’, which comes from the Greek words ‘koleos’ and ‘nema’ meaning ‘sheath’ and ‘thread’ respectively and the Latin word ‘pulchellum’ means ‘pretty’.
  • Diosma is also known as ‘confetti bush’, ‘breath of heaven’ and ‘buchu’ and was once named ‘Coleonema pulchrum’.
  • Diosma blooms in late autumn to spring, with small flowers 7-8 mm (0.275 – 0.3 inch) that have five petals, and are pink, white, mauve and red in colour.
  • Diosma is native to South Africa and likes to grow in warm areas.

Diosma, Focus, Pink, Windy, flower, Vegetation, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Once a diosma bush has finished flowering, they develop small capsules that contain, small black seeds.
  • Diosma is from the family Rutaceae, which is the family of rue and citrus.
  • Diosma grow from 0.5 to 2 meters (2 to 6.5 feet) in height.
  • Diosma has small, needle shaped leaves that are typically green in colour.
  • Insects including butterflies and bees come for the nectar of diosma, while ants transport the black seeds which can grow into new plants.
Bibliography:
Diosma, 2013, Burke’s Backyard, <http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Flowering-Plants-and-Shrubs/Diosma/1682>
Coleonema Pulchellum, 2004, Plantz Africa, <http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/coleonpulchell.htm>

Amazon:   

Rosemary

By | |
Leave a comment
Rosemary

Smell the strong smelling rosemary.

  • The scientific name of rosemary is Rosmarinus officinalis, ‘rosmarinus’ being Latin for ‘dew of the sea’, which is said to be a reference to its little need for water which can be derived from the moisture in the sea air.
  • Rosemary is an evergreen, woody herb with spiky looking green leaves and mauve, purple, blue, white or pink coloured flowers.
  • Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean area and is from the Lamiaceae family, which is the family of mint.
  • Rosemary is also known as ‘anthos’, the Greek word for ‘flower’, and the ‘Rose of Mary’, due to the suggestion that Virgin Mary laid her cloak on the herb.
  • Rosemary leaves are often used as a seasoning for stuffings and meat such as roast lamb, chicken, pork, turkey and in Mediterranean dishes, and the flowers can also be used, sometimes featuring in salads.

 Rosemary, Flower, Purple, Ten Random Facts< Australia, Plant, Herb,

  • Rosemary is quite drought tolerant, can be grown as a hedge plant, and ranges in height from 30 cm – 1.5 meters (1-5 feet) depending on the species.
  • In 2013, it was officially proven that rosemary helps the brain with remembering and clarity due to the smell of the essential oil that is contained in the plant, although the Ancient Greeks and Shakespeare both discovered these memory properties long ago.
  • Rosemary contains vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, iron, calcium and manganese, and because it contains rosmarinic acid which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is often used for medicinal purposes, including the treatment of hair for dandruff and baldness.
  • Rosemary was worn by both the bride and the groom in weddings in the Middle Ages, and a piece was then planted in the hope of good luck for the couple’s marriage.
  • Rosemary is often worn at Australia’s ANZAC Day ceremonies due to the abundance of the herb at the Gallipoli war grounds and its association with remembrance.
Bibliography:
Campbell C, Rosemary, 2011, Gardening Australia, < http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2046448.htm>
Rosemary, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary>

Amazon:     

Snow Pea

By | |
Leave a comment
Snow Pea

Open up the snow peas to find the hidden peas.

  • Snow peas are edible legumes and pea pods that are known as a vegetable, and are believed to be native to the Mediterranean area.
  • Snow peas are also called ‘Chinese pea pods’, ‘Chinese pea’ and ‘mangetout,’ which means ‘eat it all’ in French.
  • Snow peas are from the family Fabaceae, which is the family of legumes, beans and peas.
  • Snow peas contain peas that can be harvested once ripe, although they may taste different to typical peas, and are not normally eaten at this stage.
  • Snow peas are very high in vitamin C, and are a good source of vitamins A and K as well as iron and magnesium.

Snowpea, Green, Bowl, Lots, Vegetable, Legume, Ten Random Facts, Fresh

  • Snow peas are often eaten raw and cooked in stir-fries, and can also be added to salads or other main dishes.
  • Snow pea pods don’t have the inedible fibre that most pea pods have, which is why you can eat the pods.
  • Snow peas grow on a vine that grow 0.6 to 2 meters (2 to 6.5 feet) in height and the peas are generally picked ten days after the white flower is pollinated.
  • Snow peas are quite similar to typical peas except they have a softer pod and taste crisper and sweeter.
  • Snow peas are harvested when the pod is 7 to 10 cm (2.7 to 4 inch) in length and when the peas inside are just starting to bulge.
Bibliography:
Fernando N, Snow Pea and Sugar Snap Pea, 2009, Victoria Government Department of Environment and Primary Industry, < http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/horticulture/vegetables/vegetables-a-z/snow-pea-sugar-snap-pea>
Snow Pea, 2013, Wikipedia, < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_pea>

Amazon:     

Strelitzia

By | |
Leave a comment
Strelitzia

Brightly coloured ‘birds’, the strelitzia.

  • Strelitzia are also known as ‘bird of paradise plants’ or ‘crane flowers’.
  • The flowers of strelitzia are shaped like a spikey-headed bird, hence their common names refer to birds, and are generally bright orange or yellow and purple, although a couple of the species have white flowers.
  • Strelitzia are named after the place where Queen Charlotte was born in 1744, in the territory of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
  • Strelitzia are native to South Africa and do not like the cold as they are a tropical climate plant, however some species are frost resistant.
  • There are five or six species in the group of strelitzia, Strelitzia reginae being the most common.

Orange, Flower, Strelitzia, Pointy, Bird, Paradise, Plant, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • Strelitzia is from the family of Strelitziaceae, which is the family of three genera of plants, Strelitzia, Ravenala and Phenakospermum.
  • The leaves on strelitzia can be quite large and are generally shaped like banana leaves or paddles.
  • Strelitzia flowers are pollinated by the feet of nectar feeding sunbirds that like to visit the flowers.
  • Strelitzia plants generally need to be 3-5 years old before they will flower, which happens mostly in late winter and spring, although they can be seen flowering at other times.
  • Strelitzia grow to a general height of 2 to 3.5 meters (6 to 11.5 feet), but some species can grow up to 10 meters (33 feet) in height.
Bibliography:
Strelitzia, 2013, Wikipedia, < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strelitzia>
VanZile J, Birds of Paradise – How to grow Strelitzia, 2013, About.com, < http://houseplants.about.com/od/foliageplants/p/BirdofParadise.htm>

Amazon:     

Magnolia

By | |
Leave a comment
Magnolia

Magnificent magnolia.

  • Magnolias are a group of  over 100 flowering plants that are from the family Magnoliaceae.
  • Magnolias are native to Asia and North, Central and South America.
  • Magnolias are evergreen and deciduous trees that bear large leaves and large, shapely flowers, and grow from 6 meters to 24 metres (20 ft – 80 ft) in height.
  • Beetles are the main pollinators of magnolias, and the fruits are usually cone shaped and are red or pink in colour and contain a number of seeds.
  • Many magnolia species flower in early spring, often before leaves appear, but some bloom in summer.

Magnolia, Pink, White, Black, Single, Flower, Focus, Vegetation, Petals, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • Magnolia flowers are sometimes fragrant and can be purple, pink, white, cream, or yellow, in colour.
  • Magnolias are named after Pierre Magnol, who was a French botanist.
  • Magnolia bark and buds have been used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine.
  • Magnolias are the main diet of the grubs of some moths or butterflies from the family Lepidoptera such as the Giant Leopard Moth.
  • Magnolias are the state flower of Louisiana and Mississippi in the United States.
Bibliography:
Magnolia, 2013, Wikipedia, < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia>
Plant Profile: Magnolia, 2011, Gardening Australia, < http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866634.htm>

Amazon:     

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...